The Italian Educational System

I had been looking forward to a better understanding if the educational system here in Italy and today was the day. Professor Sergio Govi held a session this morning at the Modena-Reggio Emilia University explaining the laws and workings of their system.

Some highlights:
*At the preschool level, 99.9% of teachers are women, at the primary level, 96% women, middle 70% and secondary less than 50%.
*Private institutions have to right to create schools. They receive state $ but must follow state rules and will be treated equally.
*80% of all preschools are state schools.
*Children attend school from 27-40 hours per week, the highest being an extended type of day based on the family needs. Boy wouldn't that open a can of worms!
*School is open and free to everyone for 10 years.
*Different regions have different norms but reform is in the works for consistency throughout the country.
There are however strong regional variations regarding preschool. The European Union is working toward a goal system for children 0-6.
*North Italy has very high rates of children in preschool, more than 20 %, with Reggio Emilia having the highest in Italy at 40%. Yay Reggio!
**Double star this point....Staff for preschool aged children is doubled!!!
*The upper levels are comparable to what we learned in Switzerland where after the first 10 years you move to a technical field, professional field (apprenticeships etc) or continue to the University level.
*Teaching of two foreign languages is mandated. One typically being English and one has to be a language of the European Union.
*State exams are required to move to the next level. Region by region varies but there is a move to have consistency in the requirements.
*Schools are committed to teaching religion.
*For students with, as they say here, "special rights", they have to right to full inclusion and admittance. Classroom numbers are kept at 20 with an additional teacher and assistants some on an as needed basis. Some special classes are offered but it is a rarity.
*New laws for special rights students are in the approval phase, by which students will be allowed to have accommodations, such as extended time on state exams. They refer to them as compensatory materials and dispensing measures". This will be available to students with "certified" disabilities.
*No more than 30% of students in one class can be "foreign". Reggio has some schools with 50% foreign students.
*Getting hired is quite a process and would seem dismal.......the degree for teaching is 4 years with an educational internship and a "norm" passing.
*Hiring is done through public competition. Hiring is done gradually through the public competition list. The list is currently, get this, 240,000 teachers and they hire about 20,000 per year......that is tough!
*Teachers must retire at 65!

This is actually only a brief overview of my notes!

I have also attached some photos from the market today. A little shopping before class!