Education in Italy

Education in Italy is an important system that helps children learn from a young age. It is required for children from 6 to 16 years old and has five main levels: kindergarten, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and university. All of these schools are free for everyone who lives in Italy, no matter where they come from.

In 2018, a study showed that students in Italy were doing a bit below average compared to other countries in reading and science, but close to average in math. Schools in the north of Italy did better, while schools in the south had more challenges. One city, Trento, and another, Bolzano, did especially well in reading.

Italy also has many great universities. Bologna University, founded in 1088, is the oldest university that is still open today. Other top schools include Bocconi University, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, LUISS, the Polytechnic University of Turin, the Polytechnic University of Milan, Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Milan. These schools are known around the world for their quality.

History

Italy has had a state school system since 1859, when the Casati Act started making primary education compulsory. This law aimed to increase how many people could read and write. However, in rural and southern areas, many children still did not go to school. It took many years for most children to attend primary school.

Later, in 1923, a new law called the Gentile Reform changed the education system. This happened when Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party were in power. The reform made education compulsory until age 14 and created different types of schools. After five years of primary school, students could choose between schools that prepared them for further education or ones that prepared them for work. In 1962, these work-focused schools were abolished, and all children up to age 14 followed the same program.

Since 1962, the basic structure of Italian education has stayed mostly the same, with some changes to give more options to students.

In 1999, the Italian university system changed. It switched from a five-year degree to a system with a three-year degree followed by a two-year advanced degree. This made it easier for students to switch courses or study in other countries.

In 2019, Italy planned to make learning about climate change and sustainable development a required part of school for all students starting in 2020.

Primary education

Primary school, also known as elementary school, lasts five years. Children usually start at age 6, but some may begin early if they are still 5 but were born between January and March.

All students learn the same subjects: Italian, English, math, science, history, geography, social studies, and physical education. Some schools also teach Spanish, French, music, and art. Whether a school is private or public does not change what is taught.

Secondary education

See also: Secondary education in Italy

Secondary education in Italy lasts 8 years and has two parts: middle school and high school. Middle school is for three years, usually from age 11 to 14, and high school is for five years, usually from age 14 to 19. At the end of each part, students take an exam to move to the next level.

In both middle and high school, students mainly stay in one classroom, and teachers move between rooms, except for physical education which is often held in the gym. Middle school days can be from Monday to Saturday, starting around 8:00 am and ending around 1:00 pm, or from Monday to Friday, ending around 2:00 pm. High school days are usually longer, from 4 to 8 hours each day, depending on the school and the day of the week. There are usually short breaks during the day, and a longer break for lunch if needed, but schools do not provide food.

High schools in Italy come in three main types, each with different subjects. All high schools teach Italian, English, maths, and history, but each type has its own special subjects. The three types are:

• Liceo (lyceum): focuses on theory and has specializations like humanities, maths and science, foreign languages, psychology, social science, or fine arts. Some liceos also offer extra classes with more hours in specific subjects or lessons in English.
• Istituto tecnico (technical institute): combines theory with practical skills in areas like economy, administration, technology, tourism, or agriculture. Students often do a short internship at a company, association, or university.
• Istituto professionale (professional institute): focuses on practical skills in subjects like engineering, agriculture, cooking, technical help, or crafts. Students can sometimes get a diploma after three years and start looking for a job.

All high schools last either 4 or 5 years, split into two parts. The first two years have similar subjects, while the next three years focus more on specific areas. After finishing high school, students take a final exam called esame di maturità (since 2025-26) or esame di stato (older name). This exam has both oral and written parts, with some tests being the same for all schools and others depending on the type of school. Students are usually 19 years old when they start university.

Higher education

See also: Higher education in Italy and List of universities in Italy

Italy has many public universities and schools where students can earn higher education degrees. These universities are managed by the Italian Ministry of Education.

Some of Italy's universities are very old, like the University of Bologna, founded in 1088, which is the oldest one ever. Many universities in Italy are supported by the government. In 2019, 33 Italian universities were among the best in the world.

There are also special schools called Superior Graduate Schools, which offer advanced degrees and master’s programs. These schools are known as "Schools of Excellence." One example is the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, founded in 1810 by Napoleon.

Italy has many well-known universities, such as Bocconi University in Milan, known for its business programs, and the University of Rome La Sapienza, one of Europe’s largest universities. Other top schools include the Polytechnic University of Turin and the University of Milan.

Summary

Education in Italy is required for children from the age of 6 to 16. It includes several stages: kindergarten, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and university. Education is free for everyone, including children of any nationality living in Italy, and the country has both public and private schools.

Standards

In 2018, Italy's secondary education was found to be below the average for countries in the OECD group. Students in Italy did worse in reading and science compared to the OECD average, and were close to average in math. Some areas like Trento and Bolzano did better in reading than the rest of the country. Schools in the north of Italy did better than schools in the south.

In 2021, almost half of the schools in Italy said they did not have enough teachers, and many reported having teachers who were not well-trained or qualified. This was a bigger problem than in most OECD countries.

Energy use

Rome manages about 1,144 schools, including nurseries, kindergartens, primary, and high schools. These buildings use a lot of energy, making up around 95% of the city’s total energy use. Plans are in place to make these schools more energy-efficient. This will help save money and reduce harmful gases released into the air. About 200 schools will be rebuilt with help from the Italian government, money from the European Union, and a €150 million credit approved in February 2023.