Dozens of students staged a sit-in protest outside their school in central Rome on Monday, urging the government to re-open the education sector across the country after most of its 20 regions extended closures to contain rising Covid-19 infections, according to Reuters.

Italian schools reopened in mid-September after a six-month stop — the longest in Europe — but face-to-face lessons in high schools across the country were gradually suspended again a month later due to a new surge in cases.

“School is crucial. We are asking for a safe return to face-to-face activities,” student Emanuele Santori said during a demonstration in Rome outside his Cavour school under the shadow of the Colosseum.

Fellow pupil Ilaria Rinattieri added: “It is true we are young, but it is also true we will be the next electoral voters, workers and the citizens of tomorrow.”