In Italy a state school system or Education System has existed since 1859, when the Legge Casati (Casati Act) mandated educational responsibilities for the forthcoming Italian state (Italian unification took place in 1861). The Casati Act made primary education compulsory, and had the goal of increasing literacy. This law gave control of primary education to the single towns, of secondary education to the provinces, and the universities were managed by the State. Even with the Casati Act and compulsory education, in rural (and southern) areas children often were not sent to school (the rate of children enrolled in primary education would reach 90% only after 70 years) and the illiteracy rate (which was nearly 80% in 1861) took more than 50 years to halve.
The next important law concerning the Italian education system was the Legge Gentile. This act was issued in 1923, thus when Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party were in power. In fact, Giovanni Gentile was appointed the task of creating an education system deemed fit for the fascist system. The compulsory age of education was raised to 14 years, and was somewhat based on a ladder system: after the first five years of primary education, one could choose the ‘Scuola media’, which would give further access to the “liceo” and other secondary education, or the ‘avviamento al lavoro’ (work training), which was intended to give a quick entry into the low strates of the workforce. The reform enhanced the role of the Liceo Classico, created by the Casati Act in 1859 (and intended during the Fascist era as the peak of secondary education, with the goal of forming the future upper classes), and created the Technical, Commercial and Industrial institutes and the Liceo Scientifico. The Liceo Classico was the only secondary school that gave access to all types of higher education until 1968.
The influence of Gentile’s Idealism was great, and he considered the Catholic religion to be the “fundament and crowning” of education. In 1962 the ‘avviamento al lavoro’ was abolished, and all children until 14 years had to follow a single program, encompassing primary education (scuola elementare) and middle school (scuola media).
In Italy, the debate rages on regarding the role of religion and its symbols in education. Meanwhile primary schooling remains free, after which parents must pay school fees through to age 16. After spending time at preschool (scuola materna) children enter scuola primaria (primary school) for 5 years. Here they learn the basics of computer studies, english, geography, italian, mathematics, music, science, social science and optional religious studies. All children who turn 13 in a particular year, go on to lower secondary school the following year.
Scuola Media or lower secondary school is mandatory too, although not free. There scholars follow a three year program nominally from age 11 to age 14. Minimum school hours are 30 per week. Up to 10 hours more may be financed by a school’s own budget to provide tuition in computer skills, foreign languages, sports, music with own instrument, and chess. At the end of the third year, those who pass oral and written examinations receive a diploma di licenza media.
Further vocational education involves practical certificated training in specific skills according to European Union standards. This broad approach facilitates cross-country training and experience, as a consequence of which Italian tradespeople and technicians are in demand world-wide.
Italian universities follow generally accepted tertiary education standards. Accordingly they offer courses towards bachelors, 1- and 2-year masters degrees, and doctorates. Other specialization schools provided advanced knowledge to those already with second-level degrees, while refresher courses aptly named corso di perfezionamento enable professionals to top-up their knowledge.
Many of the oldest universities in the world are found in Italy. Among literally scores, the oldest are the University of Bologna that dates from AD 1088, and the University of Padua founded in the year 1222.
