Changes and permanence in early childhoo education management in Reggio Emilia

Abstract

Much of the Italian prestige in early childhood education, comes from the Emilia-Romagna, specifically from the city of Reggio Emilia, recognized for its innovative pedagogical proposals with participatory and democratic management. Italian early childhood education is divided between nidi d'infanzia (0 to 3 – kindergartens) and scuole dell'infanzia (3 to 6 – preschools). Only from 2017, day care centers became part of the education area, with the creation of the Integrated System for 0 to 6 years. This picture differs from the Brazilian reality, which has incorporated the day care center in the education system already in the Constitution of 1988 and in the LDB of 1996. In Italy, children's access to early childhood education institutions is still restricted, mainly due to the high monthly fees charged in the 0-3 years’ stage, which may be public but not free. Based on document analysis, this article presents the configuration of education from 0 to 6 years old in Reggio Emilia, with data on meeting demand, amounts paid by families and the new configurations for managing its system, through a process called hybridization. The study concludes that despite its propagated quality, it is still necessary a long way to guarantee the right of the children to education.  There is a differentiated process resulting from the history of struggle and resistance of its population, which can be a counterpoint to the traditional processes of privatization.