The Italian educational system of education and training is organized in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and the autonomy of educational institutions.
The State has exclusive legislative competence for the “general rules on education” which it guarantees throughout the national territory.The State also defines the fundamental principles that the regions must respect.
The regions have concurrent legislative powers in the field of education and exclusive powers in the field of vocational education and training.
State educational institutions have autonomy in teaching, organization and research, experimentation and development.
Compulsory education lasts for 10 years, from 6 to 16 years of age, covering eight years of the first stage of education and the first two years of the second stage, which may be attended in secondary secondary school – state – or in regional vocational education and training.
In addition, for all young people the right/duty of education and training is applied for at least 12 years or, in any case, until the achievement of a three-year professional qualification by 18 years. of age.
Compulsory education can be carried out in state and peer schools, which constitute the public education system, but it can also be carried out in non-sparity schools or through family education. In the latter two cases, fitness examinations are required.
Parents are responsible for the fulfillment of the obligation of education of minors, while the supervision of the fulfilment of the obligation is provided by the municipalities of residence and school managers.
At the end of the period of compulsory education and in case the student does not continue his studies, a certification of the acquired skills is issued.
After passing the final state examination of secondary education of second degree, the student can access the courses of tertiary education (university, Afam and ITS). Some university courses are limited in number and students must pass an access test.
Article 33 of the Italian Constitution lays down two fundamental principles: the obligation for the State to offer a state education system to all young people and the right, for natural and legal persons, to set up schools and educational institutions without burdens for the State.
Equal opportunities schools are entitled to award qualifications of the same legal value as those of the corresponding State schools; they have full freedom with regard to cultural orientation and pedagogical benefit from a more favorable tax treatment if they are non-profit-making.
