Building the Educational Future in Catania: Successful Synergies in the Metropolitan Observa tory against School Dropout

The city of Catania faces an urgent challenge related to school dropout, with a rate of 25%, the highest in the coun- try. This critical phenomenon is closely linked to juvenile delinquency, highlighting the need for targeted interven- tions. To address this issue, the “Metropolitan Observatory for the Prevention and Contrast of Educational Poverty, School Dropout, and Juvenile Deviance” was established in 2021, coordinated by the Prefect of Catania. The ob- servatory not only analyzes the issue at hand but also intervenes with concrete actions to support minors and their families. The analysis revealed that school dropout is particularly entrenched in peripheral neighborhoods and areas within the historic center that represent “new internal peripheries” of the city. This involves a significant number of chil- dren and adolescents, positioning Catania at the national forefront in proportion to its population. The institutions forming the observatory emphasize the concrete risk that this phenomenon fuels the informal labor market and serves as a recruitment pool for criminal organizations. The observatory operates through effective synergy among various stakeholders, including the Juvenile Court, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Law Enforcement, School Superintendent’s Office, Municipal and ASP Social Services, University of Catania, Diocese of Catania, as well as social and economic actors. Thanks to this collaboration, many minors have been reintegrated into the educational system. Within the observatory, three working groups have been established. The first involves institutions, unions, parish entities, and the third sector to analyze the context of educational poverty. The second group focuses on the socio- cultural, economic, and territorial vulnerabilities of neighborhoods, aiming to implement urban regeneration projects. It has developed a digital mapping of the city, creating an index of social fragility. The third group primar- ily involves law enforcement and juvenile and ordinary magistracy on the issues of deviance and urban security. The data from these groups guide initiatives for preventing juvenile deviance in collaboration with schools. In Sep- tember 2023, the observatory was recognized by the Ministry of the Interior as one of the five good practices im- plemented within a Prefecture in Italy. Through a cultural and educational campaign, the observatory promotes awareness of the essential role of com- pulsory education. The creation of a synergistic network among institutions constitutes a virtuous communicative circuit that, along with tested practices, establishes an absolute precedent. The University of Catania actively en- gages in this context, acknowledging its social responsibility and providing a replicable model for other Italian re- alities.