What are the most interesting facts about the education system in italy?

Question

What are the most interesting facts about the education system in italy?

Answer 1

This is the last report I've in hands (and in my memory).

I wish it's also the one currently running here in Italy since in the last years any time we have a new government immediately we have a reform of the school system..!!!

As far as I know the Italian educational system consists of elementary school (5 years), lower secondary school (3 years), upper secondary school (5 years), followed by post-secondary and tertiary education. Compulsory schooling lasts 9 years, from 6 to 15 years of age (i.e. all Italian children must attend elementary school, lower secondary school and the first year of upper secondary school). Once they have completed their compulsory schooling, pupils not intending to go on to further or higher education may chose to leave school, but they must enrol for some form of training until they are 18 years old.

Under the last reform of the Italian school system schools are organised in two cycles: basic schooling, lasting 7 years, and secondary schooling, lasting 5 years. Compulsory schooling continues to last 9 years (from 6 to 15); the training alternative, compulsory until 18 years of age, also remained unchanged.

Pre-school education (for children between 3 and 6) is provided in nursery schools. Nursery education is optional. Both the optional nursery education and compulsory schooling provided in State schools are free of charge.

Post-secondary and tertiary education is provided by education and training colleges (public and private) and by universities. Universities offer courses tailored for specific purposes (2 to 3 years) and diploma courses (2 to 3 years), which train students for middle-level technical occupations; they also provide degree courses (4 to 6 years), specialisation courses (2 to 5 years) and doctoral research courses. The recent reform of university education has leaded to a four-step system: diploma (3 years), degree (2 years), specialisation (2 years), and research doctorate (2 years).

Answer 2

Well, there's the  "scuola dell'infanzia", lasting 3 years, for children from 3 to 5 yrs. old, it's not compulsory. Then there's the "scuola primaria" lasting 5 years, for children up to 10/11 yrs. old and then after the "scuola secondaria di primo grado", lasting 3 years. Then a student can chose among different "scuola primaria di secondo grado", according to their interests and abilities, this school lasts 5 years and now it's compulsory too till a guy is 18. A student can go to university after that school and there are courses of 3/ 4/ 5 or 7 years, depending on the subject.

I can say that the most interesting thing in italian school is... that lately there are less italian children than ever.

There are a lot of foreign children, a percentage growing month after month, most of them coming from North Africa, Pakistan, India and Russia.

If you need other informations please ask, I'm a teacher.