A school in Crotone has confirmed that a planned commemoration marking the anniversary of the tragic Cutro shipwreck will go ahead as scheduled on February 25, following days of uncertainty and public debate. The event, titled “Steccato di Cutro, an open wound, the value of humanity,” will be held at the Barlacchi-Lucifero institute to honor the 94 people who lost their lives, including 35 children, when a migrant boat sank off the coast in February 2023.
The school had initially faced criticism after reports emerged that the memorial might be blocked due to concerns about government guidance on ensuring balanced viewpoints during school events. However, headteacher Girolamo Arcuri clarified that the situation was the result of an administrative misunderstanding and confirmed that the gathering would proceed in its original format.
According to Alfonso Marcuzzo, regional secretary of the trade union FLC CGIL, he received a formal invitation from the school to help organise the commemoration, which is intended as a moment of reflection on one of the most painful tragedies to affect the local community and the country as a whole.
Arcuri explained that the school has consistently worked to preserve the memory of the victims through various initiatives and had authorised the event from the start. He said he had asked organisers to broaden the discussion, but later regretted the confusion that followed, stressing that remembrance should remain a unifying act.
The earlier hesitation reportedly stemmed from a circular issued by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara, which calls for pluralism and freedom of opinion in school activities. The suggestion that the event lacked an “opposing viewpoint” sparked criticism from unions and civil society groups, who argued that commemorating a humanitarian tragedy should not be treated as a political matter.
Lawyer Francesco Verri, representing families of the victims in ongoing legal proceedings related to alleged delays in rescue efforts, also criticised the initial pause, saying that remembrance should not be a source of division. Political voices, including Nicola Fratoianni of the Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, questioned how an opposing perspective could apply to a memorial for those who died.
Calls for reconsideration also came from within the government. Wanda Ferro of Fratelli d’Italia emphasised that the tragedy belongs to the whole nation and should not be seen through a partisan lens, adding that the government has nothing to fear from open remembrance.
The commemoration is expected to bring together students, educators, union representatives, and community members to reflect on the human cost of migration and to honour those who lost their lives, reaffirming a shared commitment to memory, dignity, and solidarity.