Italy Education at Primary Level
Italy Education is compulsory at the primary level which starts at the age of six. However it can be preceded by 3years of preschool nursery training which is however optional. This type of education in Italy is provided by the Scuola Elementare . It is a 5 year program followed between the ages of six to eleven and the schooling and textbooks in the public schools are free. The students following such education in Italy are awarded the Diploma di Licenza della Scuola Elementare.
Italy Education in Lower Secondary Schools
The lower secondary schools, Scuola Media Inferiore , starting at the age of eleven go on for 3 years. The students of such education in Italy receive the Diploma di Licenza della Scuola Media at the age of 14 years. Although at this stage schooling is free, the books have to be bought by the students.
Italy Education in Higher Secondary Schools
Students must pass an exam to move up to scuola secondaria superiore or liceo , higher secondary school. Higher secondary school is of five years till the student is eighteen or nineteen years old. These are voluntary schools. Students must select an option about their education at an early age of the higher secondary school they will attend. Each higher secondary school is specialized by subject matter such as:
Liceo scientifico (scientific)
Liceo classico (classic)
Liceo linguistico (language)
Istituto magistrale (school for teachers)
Istituto tecnico (technical school)
Istituto professionale (professional school)
Students are rarely allowed to change their minds. Once passed they are awarded the Diploma di Maturità Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di Liceo Classico/Liceo Scientifico (since 1999).
Apart from these schools there are two types of schools the Technical Secondary and the Specialized Secondary which provide the Maturità Tecnica/Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di/pe r (name of technical option in the Istituto Tecnico concerned (since 1999) and the Maturità Artistica, Maturità Magistrale Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo del Corso di/per. ..(name of the option within the Istituto Secondario concerned)(since 1999) respectively.
The vocational training is rendered by Istituto Professionale for three years at the end of which pupils following such courses in the system of education in Italy are awarded the Diploma di Qualifica. Similar level professional training is of five years in Istituto Professionale which earns Diploma di Maturità Professionale di/per.../Diploma di Esame di Stato conclusivo dei Corsi di Istruzione Professionale di/per. ..(name of the option within the Istituto Professionale concerned). All the above courses charge students for tuition fees.
University education in Italy is highly specialized and severely competitive.
Italy has:
- 42 state universities,
- 6 private universities,
- 3 technical universities and
- 12 specialized university institutes.
Each university provides 4 main courses:
- Diploma universitario (university diploma),
- Diploma di Laurea (Bachelor of Arts/Science),
- Dottorato di Ricerca (research doctorate), and
- Diploma di Specializzazione (diploma of specialization).
The studies at specialized schools take 2 to 5 years, depending on the field of specialization. A duration of research activity is included.
The preferred subjects are Agriculture, Architecture, Economics, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, Humanities, Modern Languages and Education, Biomedicine, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Natural Sciences, Physics and Mathematics and Political Science.
Hence the scope and depth of education in Italy is pretty commendable.
