5.3 Education
2 min read•june 18, 2024
K
Kallie Hoffman
K
Kallie Hoffman
Education 🏫 📖
Education is free in Italy for all students and is divided into 5 stages: kindergarten, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and university.
Kindergarten (scuola dell'infanzia) 👦 👧
- 3 years of nursery school
- Ages 3-6; American preschool
- American preschool
Primary School (scuola primaria/scuola elementare)
- 5 years
- Ages 6-11; American elementary school
- The curriculum is the same for EVERYONE: Italian, English, mathematics, natural sciences, history, geography, social studies, and physical education
Lower Secondary School (scuola media)
- 3 years, 8 AM - 1 PM
- Ages 11-14; American middle school
- Students stay in the same classroom for most of the day
Upper Secondary School (scuola superiore)
- 5 years, 8 AM - 4 PM
- Ages 14-19; American high school
- Students move from classroom to classroom
- Every grade level has an exam at the end of the year (esame di maturità) ✍🏾 📝
- Same curriculum structure for the first 2 years and then... specialization
Liceo
- Theoretical knowledge, specializing in a specific field (humanities, science, languages, art)
- Normally students would then proceed to a university
Istituto Tecnico
- Theoretical knowledge, specializing in a specific field of study, integrated with a 3-6 month internship at a company, business, or university
- Normally students would then get a technical job
Istituto Professionale
- Practical subjects (engineering, agriculture, technical assistance, handicrafts), enabling students to find a job immediately after graduation
University (università) 🎓 👩🏼🎓
- Network of public and state-affiliated universities
- Some of the oldest universities in the world: the University of Bologna, the University of Padua, and the University of Naples Federico II
- Offer MANY potential subjects — popular areas include international business, art history, literature, fashion, and Italiano :)
- So-called 3+2 system- - 3 years of school, "Bachelor Degree"- - Laurea Triennale + 2 years of specialization, "Masters Degree"- - unique 5 years of school for certain programs such as Law, Arts, and Music
Italy vs USA: Education Edition
- Italy—five years in high school, school on Saturdays, number grades 🔢, fewer extracurriculars
- USA—4 years in high school, weekends off, letter grades 🔠, extracurriculars are very popular (sports, clubs, theater, etc.)
- BOTH—balance between group and individual work, English is taught, students receive more responsibility with age
Key Terms to Review (6)
Laurea Magistrale: A graduate degree obtained after completing two additional years of study beyond the Laurea Triennale at a university.
Laurea Magistrale Quinquennale: The Laurea Magistrale Quinquennale is an Italian academic degree that corresponds to a Master's degree. It is a five-year program that follows the completion of a three-year Bachelor's degree.
Laurea Triennale: An undergraduate degree obtained after completing three years of study at a university.
Liceo: A liceo is a type of high school in Italy that focuses on providing a broad and general education, with an emphasis on humanities, sciences, and foreign languages.
Scuola Media: Scuola Media refers to the middle school level of education in Italy, typically attended by students between the ages of 11 and 14. It is a mandatory educational stage that prepares students for higher levels of education.
Università: A higher education institution where students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in various fields of study.