The benefits of small classes to improve learning at school are undeniable. In an educational context where individual attention and quality of teaching are essential for student development, small classes are an effective strategy to ensure more personalized and student-centered instruction. This approach not only facilitates greater student engagement, but also allows teachers to experiment with innovative teaching methodologies and quickly adapt to the learning dynamics of the classroom.
Benefits of small classes
- More individual attention: with fewer students, teachers can spend more time with each student, quickly identifying and intervening on learning difficulties. This personalized approach increases student confidence and stimulates more active engagement.
- Improved teaching quality: in small classes, teachers can experiment with different teaching methodologies, adapting them in real time based on student responses. This promotes a dynamic and flexible learning environment, where each student can progress at their own pace.
- Increased student engagement: smaller classes encourage active participation by students, who feel more confident in sharing their ideas and asking questions. This type of interaction is essential for developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Challenges and drawbacks
However, reducing class sizes is not without its challenges. A significant obstacle is the “additional costs” associated with this educational model. Reducing the number of students per class implies the need to hire more teachers, reorganize school spaces and, in some cases, build new classrooms. In addition, there are “logistical constraints,” such as the lack of adequate facilities, which can make it difficult to implement small classes on a large scale. These factors make the adoption of this strategy complex and require careful planning and management of financial resources by educational institutions and governments.
Small classes in Italy
In Italy, reducing class sizes is a debated topic, especially in relation to improving learning and reducing inequalities. Several studies indicate that smaller classes foster a more personalized learning environment, where teachers can devote more attention to each student. However, Italian educational policies have not yet widely implemented this strategy due to economic and logistical constraints. The OECD has highlighted how the quality of teaching can benefit from class reduction, underlining the importance of adopting targeted policies to make the most of this opportunity.
Case study: Kinder International School Bologna
Kinder International School Bologna is an example of how the small class approach can be successfully implemented. With a very low student-teacher ratio, the school offers an educational environment where each child can receive the attention needed to fully develop their abilities. The school promotes personalized and multilingual learning, with a wide range of extracurricular activities that enrich the educational experience. The international approach and the quality of the teachers make Kinder a point of reference for educational excellence.
International examples
Proposing education with small classes is a model that many European countries have already adopted. For example, considered one of the best in the world for education, Finland has adopted classes with a maximum of 20 students per teacher. This allows for personalized teaching and more time for individual support.
In the Netherlands, student-teacher ratios are still kept low, often with classes of less than 25 students. This facilitates more student-centered teaching, contributing to high academic results.
Danish schools have opted for smaller classes, combining face-to-face teaching with group activities, thus promoting a more collaborative and inclusive learning environment.
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Social and economic implications
Investing in reducing class sizes can have significant social and economic implications. From a social perspective, smaller classes can contribute to a reduction in the dropout rate, as students receive more support and attention, making the school experience more rewarding. Furthermore, more personalized education can increase social mobility and, allowing students from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve better academic results and, consequently, higher professional opportunities.
From an economic point of view, although the implementation of small classes requires a significant initial investment, the long-term benefits may outweigh the costs. An education system that focuses on the quality of learning can lead to a more qualified workforce, stimulating innovation and the economic productivity of the country. Furthermore, reducing class sizes could contribute to a decrease in public spending in the long term, reducing the need for corrective interventions such as remedial programs or social support for those who fail to obtain an adequate education.
Conclusion
In conclusion, small classes represent one of the most promising solutions to improve the quality of education, both in Italy and internationally. Despite the economic and logistical challenges, evidence suggests that investing in this direction can lead to significant results in terms of learning and reduction of educational inequalities. Experiences such as that of Kinder International School Bologna concretely demonstrate the benefits of a personalized approach, which could be replicated on a larger scale to achieve a positive transformation of the educational system.
