For many years, Indire has assisted small schools to valorize their function as strongholds of education and culture and to tackle the phenomenon of dwindling populations in the locations where they operate. The research and support provided by Indire have allowed some schools on the smaller islands and in the mountain areas of Italy to experiment with joint working thanks to distance learning models and the use of technologies such as IWBs and videoconferences.

This collaboration created a national small schools network, initially represented by four territorial divisions. The first group of experiments became the  Small Schools Movement, founded officially on 10 June 2017 in Favignana with the signing of its own Manifesto, as a tool to share actions and values.

Representatives of the Movement’s founder member schools at the signing of the Manifesto in Favignana.