Structure of the chapter

This chapter provides a thematic and chronological overview of national reforms and policy developments since 2024. The web pages that follow group reforms in the following broad thematic areas: 

• Early childhood education and care 

• General school education 

• Vocational education and training 

• Higher education 

• Adult education and training

Inside each thematic area, reforms are organised chronologically. The most recent reforms are described first.

Government's key objectives for education

Every year, the Ministry of education and merit and the Ministry of university and research issue their own policy directives that describe the policies and priorities for the education and training system and for the university and research system, respectively. 

As for the year 2026 and for the three-year period 2025-2027, the priorities of the Ministry of education and merit are:

1. To promote improvements to the national education and training system by supporting school staff, implementing a welfare plan and consolidating a high-quality training model
2. To promote personalised teaching and guidance, to nurture the talents of every pupil, to tackle early school leaving and learning gaps, to foster respect and positive relationships, to combat bullying, and to ensure safety in schools
3. Consolidate the reform of technical education, the training pathway and links with ITS institutions, and strengthen the link between education and work 
4. Guarantee the right to education and students’ wellbeing, and promote access to the integrated 0–6 system
5. Support school autonomy and strengthen the national assessment system; promote the internationalisation of the education system 
6. Support the process of refurbishing school buildings
7. Enhance the curriculum in line with the new national guidelines. New school-leaving examination
8. Simplify and modernise the school system; implement the guidelines on artificial intelligence
9. Strengthen administrative transparency and improve access to the Ministry and educational institutions
10. Implement the measures set out in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) promptly and in a systematic manner

Source: Ministero dell'istruzione e del merito, Atto di indirizzo politico-istituzionale per l'anno 2026. 

The priorities of the Ministry of university and research for 2026, are:

1. Implementation of the activities foreseen in the projects of the National recovery and resilience plan
2. Enhancement of the educational offer
3. Broadening the research community
4. Update of the National programme for research 2021-2027 and of the national strategic programmes
5. Internationalization
6. Consolidation of the organisation of the Ministry and development of the activities of ‘Policy communication’

Source: Ministero dell’università e della ricerca, Atto di indirizzo per l’anno 2026.