Structure of the chapter

This chapter provides a thematic and chronological overview of national reforms and policy developments since 2023. 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 2025 and for the three-year period 2025-2027, the priorities of the Ministry of education and merit are:

1. Promoting the improvement of the national education and training system through the valorisation of school staff,
2. Respect for the individual and combating bullying,
3. Enhancing the technological-professional path and strengthening the school-to-work link,
4. Guaranteeing the right to study for all students, promoting the inclusion of the most vulnerable and the integration of foreign students, tackling school drop-outs and territorial gaps in learning, encouraging early access to the integrated 0-6 system.
5. Supporting school autonomy and strengthening the national assessment system, also with a view to the internationalisation of the school system
6. Supporting the process of upgrading of school buildings,
7. Enhancing the educational offer of schools with a view to the personalisation and updating the national guidelines for the curriculum,
8. Simplifying and innovating the school system,
9. Strengthening the administrative, management and communication capacity of the Ministry and of school institutions,
10. Promptly and systematically implementing the measures of the National recovery and resilience Plan (PNRR).

Source: Ministero dell'istruzione e del merito, Atto di indirizzo politico-istituzionale per l'anno 2025. 

The priorities of the Ministry of university and research for 2025, 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 2025.