ITALY: immigrants and the right to education

ITALY: immigrants and the right to education

Italy is one of the most important destination countries for migrants to Europe: Around 5,000,000 regular migrants live in the country (about 8 per cent of the total population) and the annual growth rate of migrant presence is – together with Spain – the highest in the European Union.

The right to education is guaranteed to foreigners regularly residing in Italy, under the same conditions of Italian citizens. In particular, minors are guaranteed the right (and obligation) to study: all minor foreign citizens must comply with a “compulsory education period” (primary and secondary school), even if they do not have a residence permit (school enrolment does not constitute a requirement to regularize neither minors, nor their parents).  Law 40 has established the compulsory education for all foreign children, has foreseen initiatives for the learning of the Italian language and has promoted the protection of the language and culture of origin. “School community receives linguistic and cultural differences as a value to establish as a basis for reciprocal respect, exchange among cultures and tolerance; in order to reach this goal, it promotes and encourages initiatives aimed at reception, protection of culture and language of origin and implementation of common intercultural activities” (Art. 36, comma 3).

Italian schools impose a 30 per cent limit on foreigners in classes in an attempt to help integration.
Under Italian law, education is compulsory for minors until they are 15: minors are automatically enrolled in the class which corresponds to their age. The teaching body can anyway decide to enroll minors in an immediately upper or lower class, by taking into consideration minors’ preparation, the studies they carried out, and their educational qualification.

In Italy children must compulsory attend primary and secondary school. After the fifth year of primary school and after the third year of secondary school children have to take an exam (primary school diploma and secondary school diploma respectively). The secondary school diploma is necessary both to enroll to high school, and to take part into state competitive examinations, it is additionally required by almost all employers.

High school is not compulsory. Attending high school allows students to take their school learning examination, thus obtaining a school-learning certificate (called: “diploma di maturità”) that allows them to be admitted to university.

Support for school integration

Teachers and students of infant school, nursery school, primary school, secondary school and high school can be supported in several different ways in order to reach school integration: social workers of various municipalities – on the ground of their acquaintance as to young people – intervene and support students that have some difficulties at setting in at school.

Some voluntary workers’ associations – in accordance with teachers – activities aimed at helping in their class, (there are for example groups of voluntary workers that help children to do their home work after school).

Adult’s Education

The Permanent Local Centers (Centri Territoriali Permanenti) are in charge of Adults’ Education. People over 15 years of age can avail themselves of adult’s education services. The Permanent Local Centers organize several free public courses:

• to get the primary school certificate;

• for foreign people that want to learn Italian, (various levels); within the district it is also possible to attend the preparatory class aimed at taking the Italian language exam with the University for foreign people (Italian language Certificate as a Foreign Language – “Certificazione di Italiano come lingua Straniera C.I.L.S.);

• for adults’ education (foreign languages, multimedia education, pre-professional classes,  etc.).

Vocational Training

Vocational training is addressed to people over 15 years of age.

Vocational training courses train people to carry out qualified jobs within industries or other working places.

“Upper level” Vocational Training is addressed to young people holding a diploma or a degree.

Vocational courses can be set up by local Authorities and by other Public and Private Bodies.

If supported by a Public Body, vocational training courses are free. In some private schools a fee is charged. For some courses scholarships are awarded. Secondary School certificate is usually necessary to be admitted. Courses making part of the Provincial planes financed by the Regions.