Between the Right to Health and the Right to Education: Governance and Territorial Inequalities in Managing Chronic Illness in Schools

Drawing on a socio-legal analysis, this article examines the management of chronic illnesses in the school environment, highlighting the main challenges and territorial inequalities embedded in the current legal framework. Through a documentary analysis of key legislative instruments and operational guidelines, it reconstructs the historical trajectory and normative context that have shaped policies aimed at safeguarding both the right to education and the health of children with chronic conditions. In the absence of a binding national law specifically regulating the management of chronic conditions in schools, the Italian landscape is fragmented across a multitude of regional- and local-level protocols and guidelines that seek to uphold both health and education rights. The study highlights the tensions generated by the limited integration of educational and health policies and the consequences of this misalignment for students’ inclusion and well-being. The critical reflections presented point to the need to rethink regulatory mechanisms in order to promote greater coherence between law and educational practice, thereby enabling a more integrated and inclusive approach to the management of chronic illnesses in schools.

Keywords: school, children, chronic illness management, territorial inequalities

Stefania Fucci, Cristina Calvi, Tra diritto alla salute e diritto all’istruzione: governance e disuguaglianze territoriali nella gestione delle malattie croniche a scuola in "PRISMA Economia - Società - Lavoro" 1/2025, pp 28-44, DOI: 10.3280/PRI2025-001003