educationitaly.org

In the year of 2003 Adel Smith, a Muslim Leader complained that in the classrooms of his children crucifixes are displayed. It happened in Italy, in one of the towns in the central part of the country, in the Abruzzo region – L’Aquilla. Mr. Smith asked at first to place the quote from the book of Koran next to the crucifixes. This was refused. So he complained, the crucifixes then should be taken away. Neo-nazi threats followed, and Adel was put under the protection of police.
 
Commenting the situation, Cardinal Ersilio Tonini considered that removing the symbol of people’s values, cultural and religious, is not right, even though it offends someone. The judge upheld the complaint. Pope John Paul II thought such actions can lead to the conflicts.
 
In 1920 there was a law made that all the public schools in Italy have to possess crucifixes in the classrooms. Not every school followed it. But such law existed. This law was upheld again in 2006. Religion is a considerable part of Italian culture, so serious debates started.
 
Since the 1980-s Catholicism was not an official Italian state religion. But the Council of State thought that the main principles of Italian culture have their origin in Christianity. Its values inspired Italian Constitution and a peaceful living together.
 
Catholic religious education is required since the early age. But you can opt out of it. When kids are 2 years old, their parents choose some religious education as pre-school. There is an alternative in the way of a non-religious class. Children there study human rights, legends and myths of different countries. They are not preparing for Catholic confirmation.
 
The laws dating 1884, 1929 (the Lateran Treaty) and 1985 state that Catholicism should be taught in all public schools as it is a part of Italian history and culture. But it doesn’t mean everyone is obliged to study it. The freedom of conscience is respected in the country. Everyone has the right to choose. Request the school authorities for making a choice what religion to study. There should be no religious discrimination.
 
In 2006 Adel Smith was sentenced to spend eight months in prison. His mother was in the hospital; there was a crucifix in her room. Mr. Smith asked the hospital authorities to remove it. It was refused, and Adel threw the crucifix out of the window.

Recently the structure of Italian higher and compulsory education has been changed. This has led to the compatibility of Italian universities with the rest of European universities. Italian education became more flexible, so it became easier to study for the foreigners.
 
Speaking about Italian Higher Education, universities execute two main tasks: researching and teaching. One of the advantages is that universities are academically autonomous. Their freedom is guaranteed by the law. Bologna is the oldest university in the world. It was founded in 1088. Turin, Florence, Naples, Rome, Ferrara and Milan are among the university centers in Italy.
 
An additional advantage is the equality of the admission for everyone. Requirements’ equivalent has been stated already. But the number of foreign students in Italian universities is limited; besides foreigners are obliged to take a preparation course in the Italian language.
 
There are some programs created especially for the foreign students. You may come to study to Italy with the help of Socrates or Erasmus programs. What a foreign student gets is the support of his/her home institution. To apply for studying in one of Italian universities is simple and quick. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the positive attitude towards participants of Socrates/Erasmus programs. They have an elevated status. The environment is good organized.
 
Qualify and enjoy your studying in Italy!

It is hardly possible to divide education in Italy into elementary and secondary, as nowadays there are three main sections.
 
At first Italian children go to “scuola elementare”. It is the first level of education. Since children get 6 they start going to school. “Scuola elementare” lasts for 5 years. After it pupils go to “scuola media”. In three years they are getting “Diploma di Licenza di Scuola Media”. Only after it pupils have the right to continue their studying. Obligatory education ends when children are 14. Then they may take 4 or 5-year course.
 
There are many high schools in Italy, so pupils can choose any “liceo”. The specializations are various: classical, artistic, linguistic or scientific. The other way school graduates may choose is to go to “instituto”, where they may get technical, industrial or commercial education. Besides that Italian institutes prepare techers for elementary schools.
 
To complete the course and get “diploma di maturita” students take a State examination. After ir students have the right to study at the university. You have to take a 5-year course to be able to attend an Italian university. If your course is a 4-year one, be ready to have an additional integrated year.
 
But not so long ago Italy faced some changes in the education. One of the recent changes is that the age of compulsory education is 16 now. Instead of “liceo” and “instituto”, Italian pupils are obligednow to have 2-year general courses, “biennio”. Then three more years of the specialized education go (“trienno” is optional). There are many new disciplines taught. Students have 34 hours of classes per week. All this leads to a good level of Italian students’ education.

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If you are planning to get higher education in Italy, you should know that there are different types of academic courses. In general Italian higher institutions offer three main kinds of courses.
 
The first type is “Diploma di Laurea”, it corresponds to the degree of the Bachelor of Science/ Arts. You will spend three years to become a BSc/BA. Some changes were recently established in Italian universities. Now degrees obtained in Italy are as competitive as those got in any other European country. One of the innovations is a flexible format. Now students have an opportunity to make their study plans. Of course, one should get the university approval. Besides that, there is a certain amount of courses required by the State minimum.
 
Before getting the qualification attainment students are taking several exams. And as a final point of achieving a degree students are to pass a final interview. In some faculties it would be thesis.
 
Those who want to get “Laura di Specializzazione” will have to study for two years. Then they will get the diploma of specialization degree. According to your specific profession you’ll be getting a certain vocational experience; much attention is paid to practice. At the end you will write a thesis. Its discussion is considered to be your final examination.
 
Postgraduate or Research Doctorate degrees are also available to be achieved in Italy. This is some kind of third education level. The Doctorate is oriented on the students’ deep understanding of the various research methodologies. The scientific course lasts for one or two years. Be ready to have an annual report of your progression. Another peculiarity of the doctorate is the big amount of research documentations you’ll have to deal with. At the end of the course students write a final dissertation. The quantity of places is limited, as students are obliged to have the Laurea or European BA/BSc. And it is not necessary to be Italian only.