MANAGING DIVERSITY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF COVID-19

The European educational system has been deeply affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Specifically, Italian schools of all levels had to resort to alternative and innovative methods of training and learning to ensure the continuity of school activities from home. Distance Learning (DL) has, therefore, allowed students to continue to follow the lessons but, at the same time, has highlighted several difficulties, especially in the management of students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). For this reason, through the above-mentioned research work, a survey was conducted at the Italian level, among parents and teachers, to investigate the impact of Distance Learning on the education of students with Special Educational Needs in Italian schools of all levels during the Covid-19 Pandemic, to answer the following Research Question (RQ1): does DL create a learning inequality for students with Special Educational Needs? The main results obtained illustrate a gap between teaching and learning modes between students with SEN and the rest of the class, especially with regard to active participation in lessons, autonomy in completing assignments, motivation and interest, and general academic performance. This study, therefore, aims to provide food for thought and solutions on the importance of managing diversity within the school environment, especially with regard to social inclusion, a fundamental element to improve outcomes for people with disabilities but that unfortunately the COVID-19 crisis and consequently the DL is taking away from them.