World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Milan court upholds dismissal of English teacher for teaching failures
A Milan middle school’s English teacher was dismissed for teaching failures after an inspection and repeated complaints from parents and colleagues.
Inspectors said she used little English in class, gave unclear explanations and did not engage properly with students, including those with additional learning needs.
They also criticised her for showing students under 14 a video about sexual violence without preparing them or answering their questions.
The Milan court upheld the school’s decision, finding serious teaching and communication problems.
It said the dismissal was based on her inability to carry out the essential duties of teaching, rather than being a disciplinary punishment.
The teacher was ordered to pay about €3,700 in legal costs, though the reports give slightly different figures.
This is a first-instance ruling, and she can appeal.
The Milan Civil Court upheld the dismissal of a middle-school English teacher for teaching failures.
The teacher had challenged the school’s decision to remove her from service for teaching incapacity.
Inspectors and witnesses reported that she used little English in class, interacted poorly with students and had other teaching shortcomings.
The court rejected her claims and ordered her to pay legal costs.
The ruling is a first-instance decision, and the teacher may appeal.
- Who
- A middle-school English teacher in Milan and the school and Education Ministry.
- What
- The Milan Civil Court upheld her dismissal for teaching incapacity and ordered her to pay legal costs.
- When
- The judgment was deposited on October 12, 2026; the articles were published on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Milan, Italy.
- Why
- The court accepted findings of serious teaching and relationship shortcomings, including limited use of English in class.
The teacher
The school and Education Ministry
Grounds for dismissal
The teacher
She argued that the concerns related to her personal teaching choices and cited her classes’ good results in national tests.
The school and Education Ministry
They said inspections found persistent teaching and classroom-management problems.
Outcome sought
The teacher
She asked the court to overturn the decision, return her to teaching and restore lost pay and career progression, or alternatively order medical and psychological assessments.
The school and Education Ministry
They opposed her claims and defended the dismissal as based on teaching incapacity.
The school principal requested and obtained a ministerial inspection.
The principal removed the teacher from service for teaching incapacity.
The court hearing took place.
The Milan court deposited judgment no. 4044/2026, rejecting the teacher’s claims.
News outlets reported that the court had upheld the dismissal; the teacher could appeal.
- Court
- Milan Civil Court
- Judgment
- No. 4044/2026
- Deposit date
- October 12, 2026
- Legal costs
- €3,703.20 in Orizzonte Scuola Notizie; €3,700 in the other reports
- School level
- Lower secondary school
- Appeal
- The teacher may appeal the first-instance ruling
3 sources
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What people are saying
l’incapacità didattica, che rende il docente non idoneo alla funzione, consiste nell’inettitudine assoluta e permanente a svolgere le mansioni inerenti all’insegnamento, inettitudine che deriva da deficienze obiettive, comportamentali, intellettive o culturali, che solo come conseguenza inducono prestazioni insoddisfacenti
gravi mancanze didattiche
si tratta sicuramente di un video non opportuno e comunque i ragazzi dovevano essere preparati prima sul tema della violenza sessuale. Il problema era anche che i ragazzi chiedevano chiarimenti, ma la docente non li forniva mai.