Premier Giuseppe Conte called for patience on Thursday after the government's proposed guidelines for the reopening of Italy's schools in September after the coronavirus lockdown came under fire from several quarters.
Italy regional governments and the association of head teachers have given the thumbs down to the proposed guidelines.
"The school is the cornerstone of our social system," Conte told Alanews near to his office at Palazzo Chigi as he chatted with members of the public.
"They are our children, our future, so it's normal for there to be lots of attention, lots of concern.
"The minister (of education Lucia Azzolina) has met the mayors and the local authorities.
"We are working every day to make it possible to return to school in September in safety.
"Give us a little more time".
Emilia-Romagna Governor Stefano Bonaccini, the head of Italy's conference of regional governments, said Thursday that the governments proposed guidelines on how to reopen schools in safety in September, amid the threat of the coronavirus, need to be changed.
The nation's association of head teachers also gave the thumbs down to the proposed guidelines on Wednesday, saying they fail to give specific instructions on things like how to make sure pupils' desks are at least one metre apart and complaining that funding for the necessary changes has not been allocated.
The guidelines say schools can set up various attendance shifts, open on Saturday and split classes into learning groups to avoid having too many pupils crowded together. Likewise, they say schools can stagger access to canteens at lunchtime and let children eat lunch at their desks in their classrooms.
The government has said children aged over six should wear facemasks at school.
"The guidelines were unacceptable to us," said Bonaccini. "We have made a counter-proposal and I hope the ministry accepts it.
"I have found (Education) Minister (Lucia) Azzolina extremely open to dialogue. "The regions are demanding that an agreement be reached together with the councils and the provinces".
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