1. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ITALY 2005/2006
Overview
Organization of the education system in Italy
Allocation of responsibilities
Ongoing debate on the recent reform
Libero di Leo, Italy

2. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ITALY 2005/2006

3. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
Age: from 2 and ½ to 5 and ½
Not compulsory
Designed to foster the education and the emotional, psychomotor, cognitive, moral, religious and social development of children and to guarantee educational continuity with the childcare services and with compulsory schools.
Co-educational: pre-primary school are always located with a primary school

4. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION
STATISTICS
School year 2004/05 – State schools (*)
Number of pupils per teacher 11.60
Number of pupils per section 23.40
Pupils 972,250
Teachers 84,056
Schools 13,572
Sections 41,487 (2 Teachers per section)
Time: from 8,00 to 16,00
(*) There are also a lot of private schools

5. COMPULSORY EDUCATION Primary education
Duration: 5 years
First year serves as a transition from pre-primary school and two successive periods of two years are scheduled
The municipality provides all pupils with textbooks and sometime bus and school meals free of charge
The task of organising the school timetable is left to the autonomous discretion of individual schools
National Guidelines for Personalised Study Plans do not mention subjects but rather disciplines and education courses (specific learning targets for each discipline that correspond to levels of knowledge and ability that pupils should reach by the end of the course)

6. COMPULSORY EDUCATION Primary education
STATISTICS
School year 2004/05 – Primary State schools (*)
Number of pupils per teacher: 10.1
Number of pupils per class: 18.4
Pupils 2,523,240
Teachers 250,296
Schools 16,174
Classes 137,462
Time: from 27 to 40 h/week
(*) There are also many private schools

7. COMPULSORY EDUCATION Secondary Education – I level
Duration: 3 years
Has a first two-year period and a third year for guidance and the transition to the second cycle of education
Enrolment and attendance are free of charge, but the families are required to pay for the textbooks.
The compulsory annual timetable is 891 hours, subdivided into 30 weeks of teaching (approximately 30 hours a week)
In addition to the compulsory weekly hours, there are 198 hours (approximately 6 hours a week) that are optional for families

8. COMPULSORY EDUCATION Secondary Education – I level
STATISTICS
School year 2004/05 – Secondary State schools (*)
Number of pupils per teacher: 9.8
Number of pupils per class: 21.1
Pupils 1,708,599
Teachers 175,111
Schools 7,025
Classes 80,875
Time: 30 h/week + 6 optional hours
(*) There are also a few private schools

9. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION/TRAINING Secondary Education – II level
Duration: 5 years (I and II level)
Second Channel (Regional training)
Duration: years

10. POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION/TRAINING Secondary Education – II level
STATISTICS
School year 2004/05 – Secondary schools (All*)
Type of school
Pupils attending
Classes
Next Year
Classical
12.106
Scientific
24.293
Linguistic-Sociological-Psico-Pedagogic
10.904
Tecnic
46.771
Artistic
5.222
98.739
Vocational
27.571
Total
(*) There are also some private schools only public schools

11. Allocation of responsibilities

12. Allocation of responsibilities (in schools)

13. Ongoing debate on the recent reform
Law 53 of 2003 for the reform of the education and training system has progressively extended compulsory education from 8 to 10 years. However, it aims at widening and redefining the concept of compulsory education and training to ensure the diritto-dovere (*) to education and training within the education system for at least 12 years or up to the attainment of a qualification (within the vocational education and training system) within 18 years of age. The diritto-dovere will be gradually introduced starting from school year 2005/2006 and in accordance with the new sistema su due canali (two channels) of the second cycle of the education system.
(*) Term introduced by Reform Law no. 53 of It means that education is not only compulsory, but also guaranteed to all students for at least 12 years or, anyhow, as long as they have obtained a certificate within 18 years of age.

14. Ongoing debate on the recent reform
Law 53 of 2003 – “Reform of school”
9/10 April Political elections:
new majority of government
To repeal or not to repeal
the Law 53 of ?
Libero di Leo, Italy