THE ITALIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM
GENERAL SCHEME
PRIMARY EDUCATION NURSERY SCHOOL (Scuola materna) ELEMENTARY (Scuola elementare)
NURSERY SCHOOL From the age of three to the age of five Not compulsory Not compulsory From the age of three to the age of five
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Scuola elementare) Compulsory. From the age of 6 to the age of 11 (five years). About 25 children per class. 30 hours per week. Subjects: Italian, English, Geography, History, Math, Science, Technology, Music, Art, Physical Education, Information Technology and Religious Instruction (optional). INVALSI Test at the end of the 2nd year and 5th year No final examination.
SECONDARY EDUCATION First Grade Secondary School (Scuola Media) Secondary Grade School (Scuola Superiore)
First Grade Secondary School (Scuola Media) First Grade Secondary School (Scuola Media). From the age of 11 to the age of 14 (three years). Free for all students. Subjects: Italian, History, Geography, Math, Science, English, French/Spanish/German, Technology, Art, Music, Physical Education, Religious Instruction (optional). 30 hours per week. Sometimes additional activities in the afternoons, such as computer studies, music or language lessons, sports activities, etc. About 20 students per class. Final examination (written and oral) including INVALSI TEST.
SECONDARY GRADE SCHOOL (Scuola Superiore) From the age of 14 to the age of 18 (five years). Compulsory till the age of 16. INVALSI TEST at the end of the 2 nd year. Curricula vary a lot depending on the course of study chosen: Grammar Schools (Licei): they provide an academic formation. Technical Institutes (Istituti Tecnici). Vocational Schools (Istituti Professionali). Final examination for all courses.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS They provide an academic formation: Liceo Classico (Classical High School). Liceo Scientifico (Scientific High School). Liceo linguistico (Linguistic High School). Liceo artistico (Fine Arts High School). Liceo musicale e coreutico (Music High School). Liceo delle scienze umane (Grammar School for Human Sciences).
TECHNICAL INSTITUTES They prepare for both university and vocation. During the first two years pupils study common subjects. They are divided into two sectors: Economic and Technological sectors. They include 11 specializations.
ECONOMIC SECTOR Administration, Finance and Marketing. Tourism.
TECHNOLOGICAL SECTOR 1. Mechanics. 2. Transports and logistics. 3. Electronics & Electric engineering. 4. Computer science and Telecommunications (Information Technology and Telecommunications). 5. Graphics and Communication. 6. Chemistry, Materials and Biotechnology. 7. Fashion system. 8. Agriculture, food processing and agro-industry. 9. Construction, Environment and Territory.
PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES They prepare for a vocational qualification. They last three years (qualification) or five years (diploma). They are divided into Services Sector and Industry and Craftsmanship Sector.
SERVICE AREA 1. Agriculture and rural development. 2. Enology, gastronomy and tourist promotion and reception. 3. Trade. 4. Social health.
INDUSTRIAL AND ARTISAN AREA 1. Industrial production and craft. 2. Maintenance and technical assistance.
INVALSI TEST INVALSI: National Evaluation Service. Tests INVALSI are periodic and systematic checks on the knowledge and skills of students and overall quality of training provided by educational institutions. Nature of the tests and their content: For Italian this is a test designed to assess the ability of reading comprehension and knowledge basic structure of the Italian language. The mathematics test verifies the knowledge and skills in numbers, spaces and shapes, figures and forecasts and reports and functions.
After Secondary School Tertiary or Higher Education (Istruzione Superiore). Post-Secondary non-Tertiary Education (Formazione professionale superiore). University.