The Italian school system
Italy and…
• Italy officially the Italian
Republic, an EU member
state situated in the south
overlooking the
Mediterranean Sea.
• It is also known as the par
excellence of "boot" for the
form and the "Beautiful
Country" because of climate
and natural and artistic
beauty.
Constitution of the Italian Republic
Basic principles include:
• the freedom of education and teaching
• the duty of the state to provide a school
open to everyone with no discrimination of
any type
• the rights and duties of parents to provide
education for their children
• the education and vocational training of
disabled and handicapped citizens
• Ministry of Education, University and
Research is responsible for school
education (MIUR)
• It is represented at local level by regional
and provincial education offices
The education system , lasting 10 years, from 6 to
16, includes:
• scuola dell'infanzia (non-compulsory) for
children between 3 and 6 years of age ;
Compulsory education
The Constitution foresees compulsory schooling
until 14 years of age; however, the recent
financial law will provide for the extension of it to
16 years of age.
Phases
• Primo ciclo dell’istruzione (first cycle of
education)
1. Scuola primaria (primary school) Age 6-11
2. Scuola secondaria di I grado (lower secondary
school) Age 11- 14
Second cycle of education
Post-compulsory education
Admissions criteria
• Holders of the certificate of the first cycle of
education may enter the second cycle of
education
Curriculum control and content
• Central government determines basic curricula
for each branch of upper secondary education
• Core subjects common to all institutions are
Italian, history, a modern foreign language,
mathematics and physical education
• The final examination, at the end of upper
secondary education, is the upper secondary
school leaving examination
• scuola secondaria di secondo grado
(upper secondary school), made up of
different kinds of schools and, generally,
for students from 14 to 19 years of age
(Access to both university and nonuniversity higher education is reserved for
students after passing the State exam at
the end of upper secondary school)
• Vocational training courses are run by
local authorities and can be attended by
people who have reached 15 years of age.
•
Secondo ciclo dell’istruzione (second cycle of education Age 14-19)
Families are free to choose the kind of school they want to send their
children to
Classical education
• Liceo artistico (artistic upper secondary school)
• Liceo classico (classical upper secondary school)
• Liceo scientifico (scientific upper secondary school)
• Liceo linguistico (linguistic upper secondary school)
• Liceo artistico (artistic upper secondary school)
• Liceo delle scienze umane (human science upper secondary school
Professional education
• 2 AREAS – 6 study courses
Technical education
• 2 AREAS – 11 study courses
Higher education
• There are two main types of higher
education: university and non-university
higher education
• the degree university sector is now based
on two main cycles (a three-year Laurea,
followed
by
a
two-year
Laurea
specialistica corresponding to a 3+2
framework)
• higher technology education (IFTS)
Continuing education
There are 2 types of training:
• Centri Territoriali Permanenti (Centers for
permanent education)
• Evening classes
schools
at
upper
secondary
Special educational support
• In Italy, disabled students have been
integrated in ordinary schools
• there is not a separate education system
for these students
• specialist support and auxiliary help is
provided.
Teachers
• each teacher has a second cycle degree
(laurea specialistica) to teach at every
school level
• Primary school teachers can teach all
subjects (are generalist teachers), but are
responsible for a specific subject area.
• Secondary school teachers are specialist
teachers
• There are:
• Permanent teachers
• Temporary teachers
• There is no in - service evaluation for
permanent teachers
• However a new law of 2009 introduced a
system of evaluation and awards to
encourage excellence. We wait the
implementing rules.
PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL
• THE SCHOOL OPENS AT 8 AM AND CLOSES
AT 4 PM, FOR 5 DAYS A WEEK;
• THERE ARE 3 CLASSES;
• IN EACH CLASS THERE ARE 2 TEACHERS;
• FOR H STUDENT, ALONG WITH A REGULAR
TEACHER, A SPECIAL SUPPORT TEACHER
IS PROVIDED .
PRIMARY SCHOOL
•
•
•
•
THERE ARE 2 SCHEDULES:
27 HOURS A WEEK
40 HOURS A WEEK
THE TEACHERS WORKS FOR 24 HOURS A WEEK
AND, SOMETIMES, TEACH DIFFERENT SUBJECTS IN
DIFFERENT CLASSES.
• THE SUBJECTS ARE: ITALIAN; ENGLISH; MATHS;
SCIENCE; HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND
CITIZENSHIP AND CONSTITUTION; MUSIC; SPORTS
SCIENCE; ART AND PICTURE; TECHNOLOGY;
CATHOLIC RELIGION (THIS SUBJECT ISN’T
COMPULSORY)
LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL
• 30 HOURS A WEEK, FOR 6 DAYS, FROM 8.30 AM
UNTIL 13.30
• THE SUBJECTS ARE: ITALIAN; ENGLISH; ANOTHER
COMUNITY LANGUAGE (FRENCH AND SPANISH)
MATHS; SCIENCE; HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND
CITIZENSHIP AND CONSTITUTION; MUSIC; SPORTS
SCIENCE; ART AND PICTURE; TECHNOLOGY;
CATHOLIC RELIGION (THIS SUBJECT ISN’T
COMPULSORY).
PROJECTS
• THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS FOR
TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS.
• SOME PROJECTS HAVE NO COSTS, SOME
HAVE DIFFERENT FUNDING:
 LAW 440/97 FOR TEACHER TRAINING
 “INSTITUTION FUNDING” OVERTIME PAY FOR
THE WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS

OTHER
COSTS
ARE
COVERED
BY
MINISTERIAL AND REGIONAL FINANCING
• IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR (2010.11) MY SCHOOL
RECEIVED ABOUT € 58.000, TO IMPROVE
STUDENT’S ABILITY
SERVICES OFFERED BY THE
MUNICIPALITY
• SCHOOLBUS: FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THE
STUDENTS; IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL
TRIPS
• MENSA (CANTEEN): THE SERVICE IS CONTRACTED
BY A PRIVATE SOCIETY AND HAS RUNNED BY
SCHOOL.
• THE PARENTS BUY A CHARGE FOR THE MEALS
EVERY MONTH.
• PSYCHO-PEDAGOGICAL TEAM: SCHOOL AND
FAMILY MIGHT ASK THIS TEAM FOR COUNSELING
FOR HANDICAPS, FOREIGN STUDENTS OR
CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.