Organisation of the education system in Italy 2009/2010 IT European Commission EURYBASE ITALY 1. POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND AND TRENDS.................................................................................. 6 1.1. Historical overview................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Main executive and legislative bodies...................................................................................................... 7 1.2.1. The State........................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2.2. The Regions ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 1.2.3. Provinces and Communes ............................................................................................................................... 9 1.3. Religions .................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.4. Official and minority languages............................................................................................................. 10 1.5. Demographic situation.......................................................................................................................... 11 1.6. Economic situation ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.7. Statistics ................................................................................................................................................ 12 2. GENERAL ORGANISATION OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATION ......................................... 14 2.1. Historical overview................................................................................................................................. 14 2.2. Ongoing debates and future developments........................................................................................... 16 2.3. Fundamental principles and basic legislation........................................................................................ 18 2.4. General structure and defining moments in educational guidance........................................................ 23 2.5. Compulsory education........................................................................................................................... 24 2.6. General administration.......................................................................................................................... 25 2.6.1. General administration at national level........................................................................................................ 26 2.6.2. General administration at regional level ....................................................................................................... 33 2.6.3. General administration at local level ............................................................................................................. 34 2.6.4. Educational institutions, administration, management................................................................................ 34 2.7. Internal and external consultation......................................................................................................... 40 2.7.1. Internal and external consultation at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels....................................... 40 2.7.2. Internal and external consultation in tertiary education............................................................................... 43 2.8. Methods of financing education ............................................................................................................ 43 2.9. Statistics ................................................................................................................................................ 45 3. PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION................................................................................................................................... 46 3.1. Historical overview................................................................................................................................. 46 3.2. Ongoing debates and future developments........................................................................................... 47 3.3. Specific legislative framework................................................................................................................ 47 3.4. General objectives.................................................................................................................................. 49 3.5. Geographical accessibility ..................................................................................................................... 49 3.6. Admission requirements and choice of institution/centre ...................................................................... 49 3.7. Financial support for pupils’ families...................................................................................................... 50 3.8. Age levels and grouping of children ....................................................................................................... 50 3.9. Organisation of time.............................................................................................................................. 50 3.9.1. Organisation of the year................................................................................................................................. 51 3.9.2. Weekly and daily timetable............................................................................................................................ 51 3.10. Curriculum, types of activities, number of hours................................................................................... 52 3.11. Teaching methods and materials......................................................................................................... 53 3.12. Evaluation of children.......................................................................................................................... 53 3.13. Support facilities .................................................................................................................................. 53 3.14. Private sector provision........................................................................................................................ 54 3.15. Organisational variation and alternative structures ............................................................................ 56 3.16. Statistics............................................................................................................................................... 56 4. PRIMARY EDUCATION......................................................................................................................................... 57 4.1. Historical overview................................................................................................................................. 57 4.2. Ongoing debates and future developments........................................................................................... 59 4.3. Specific legislative framework................................................................................................................ 59 4.4. General objectives.................................................................................................................................. 60 4.5. Geographical accessibility ..................................................................................................................... 61 4.6. Admission requirements and choice of school ....................................................................................... 61 4.7. Financial support for pupils' families...................................................................................................... 62 4.8. Age levels and grouping of pupils .......................................................................................................... 62 4.9. Organisation of school time................................................................................................................... 63 4.9.1. Organisation of the school year..................................................................................................................... 63 4.9.2. Weekly and daily timetable............................................................................................................................ 63 4.10. Curriculum, subjects, number of hours................................................................................................. 64 4.11. Teaching methods and materials......................................................................................................... 66 1 EURYBASE ITALY 4.12. Pupil assessment.................................................................................................................................. 67 4.13. Progression of pupils............................................................................................................................ 68 4.14. Certification ........................................................................................................................................