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EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
National reforms in school education

Italy

14.Ongoing reforms and policy developments

14.2National reforms in school education

Last update: 21 February 2024
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2024

Introduced a new type of liceo

In late December 2023, the Parliament has approved the legge 206/2023 that launches a general strategy of valorisation, promotion and protection of Made in Italy. This general strategy also envisage the introduction, from school year 2024/2025, of the liceo of Made in Italy in addition to the existing six general paths. The aim of this course of study is to provide students with all competences necessary to promote Made in Italy. General upper secondary institutions can start this type of liceo since the first grades, while the already existing branches specialising in economy-social subjects will transform in the option for Made in Italy. The publication of the regulations on curricula and timetables of this new type of liceo is expected in the next few months. 

Enrolments to the new liceo have started in January 2024.

2023

Published the Decree on the initial training and recruitment of secondary teachers

On 26 September, the Prime Minister Decree (DPCM 4 agosto 2023) on the new initial training for secondary school teachers, was published, as set out in Law 72/2022 that modified the Decree 59/2017, which had introduced the former reform of the initial training and recruitment for secondary teachers (please see below for a summary of the contents of the DPCM).

Signed the Decree on the initial training and recruitment of secondary teachers

On 2 August, the Prime Minister Decree (DPCM) was signed, defining the new initial training courses for secondary school teachers, as set out in Law 72/2022, which introduced the reform of the training and recruitment system for teachers at this school level.

According to the reform, future secondary school teachers will have to acquire, in addition to a master's degree, at least 60 credits in qualifying training courses. Courses of 30 or 36 credits are also envisaged for those who have already served at least three school years and for those who have obtained 24 credits under the previous training system.

The DPCM, currently awaiting publication, defines the content and structure of the training. Of the 60 credits, at least 10 must be acquired in the pedagogical area and at least 20 credits in direct or indirect practical training.

The training courses end with a final qualifying examination that includes a written test and the simulation of a lesson. The qualification is of unlimited duration and is not in itself a qualification to work as a tenured teacher, which can only be accessed through competitive procedures.

Lastly, it provides for a system of course accreditation by the National Agency for the Evaluation of the University System and Research (ANVUR), which will also carry out a periodic evaluation of the courses in order to ensure the homogeneity of the training offered.

2022

The Guidelines for guidance

In December 2022, the Ministry approved the guidelines for students' guidance (Linee guida per l'orientamento), which aim at strengthening the connection between lower and upper secondary education, tackle early school leaving and promote access to tertiary education. The main new features of the Guidelines are:

- From the 2023/2024 school year, 30 hours of guidance are introduced in lower and upper secondary schools, organised in modules and managed autonomously by the school. Each orientation module involves personalised learning that is recorded in the student's digital portfolio (E-Portfolio).

- Each school identifies tutor teachers to help students review the key parts of each personal E-Portfolio and to help families in their choice of educational paths and/or career prospects.

- In the coming years, guidance will be a strategic priority of the initial training and CPD of teachers of all grades and in the induction year, and specific training initiatives will be planned for tutor teachers.

- On an experimental basis, 'training campuses' will be set up to offer a complete overview of all secondary study paths.

- Students and families will be able to make use of a digital platform that provides information and data on upper secondary education, on tertiary education and data useful for the transition into the world of work.

Finally, a specific reference figure is envisaged in the school who, together with families and students, will facilitate the choice between continuing their studies or entering the world of work, while at the same time facilitating the match between students' skills and the demand for work.

The reform of initial training and enrolment of teachers of the secondary level of education

On 29 June 2022 the Parliament approved the reform of the initial training of secondary school teachers, within the law that establishes the use of the financial resources coming from the New Generation EU Plan (law 79/2022).

Initial training and qualification

Law 79 establishes a new process of initial training, qualification, and access – selection and induction - to the profession of teacher in secondary schools.
In particular, the new procedure is organised as follows:

  • Future teachers will attend a qualifying university programme, corresponding to at least 60 ECTS
  • National competitions will be held every year 
  • The induction period of one year will end with a final test and assessment 

The qualifying university programme can be either concurrent or consecutive to the acquisition of a second-cycle qualification necessary to teach. The qualifying programme includes a traineeship at school and a final test with a mock lesson aimed at verifying the teaching skills and the subject-related knowledge. These courses will be organised by universities.

Qualified teachers will have access to national competitions held every year and those who pass the competition will be hired for an induction period of one year. At the end of the induction phase a final assessment will verify teaching competences acquired by the teachers and in case of positive assessment, he/she will have a permanent contract.

Continuing professional development (CPD)

Law 79 confirms that CPD is mandatory for all teachers. It will be conducted during the working hours and will cover also digital competences and the critical and responsible use of digital devises. 

In addition to compulsory CPD, law 79/0222 has introduced the opportunity for teachers to acquire competences useful for practicing innovative methods of teaching, under a professional development system scheduled every three years. Training will be carried out voluntarily for teachers already working with a permanent contract and will be mandatory for newly hired teachers. CPD activities will be conducted outside the working hours and teachers may receive an economic compensation upon positive assessment of three consecutive training schedules. The amount of the accessory remuneration is established by national collective bargaining within the limits of the resources allocated at central level and cannot be less than 10% and more than 20% of the current salary. The newly established Higher school for education (Scuola di alta formazione dell'istruzione - SAFI) is committed with the definition of this training system, with providing guidelines as well as of the accreditation and monitoring of structures providing courses.  

Law 79/2022 entered into force on 30 June 2022 and its implementation will require the publication of applying regulations.

Final State examinations – specific measures for the school year 2021/2022

On 31 January 2022, the Ministry of education has released the draft documents that establish the organisation of the State exams held at the end of lower and upper secondary education.

Specific measures have been taken to meet the difficulties students have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lower secondary education: students will take two, instead of two, written tests and one interview. The two written tests verify the competences in Italian and in mathematics, while the interview verifies the competences in all the curricular subjects. Tests are drawn up by the examination board of the school.

The participation in the national standardised tests is not a requirement for the admission to the exam.

Upper secondary education: students will take two, instead of three, written tests and one interview. The first written test verifies the competences in Italian, and it is drawn up at central level. The second written test verifies the competences in a curricular subject typical of the different branches of each type of upper secondary school and it is prepared by the examination boards of the schools. The interview verifies the competences in all the curricular subjects.

The participation in the national standardised tests and in the compulsory traineeship activities is not a requirement for the admission to the exam.

The Ministry of education published the final text of the Ordinances on 14 March 2022.