Three-year kindergarten
Little Italians begin to learn early. Many parents take their children to a three-year kindergarten (scuola materna), where for three years they are prepared for school. Children learn in groups of 15-30 people by the method of the famous educator Maria Montessori. However, there are private Catholic kindergarten, where there are traditional methods of education.
In six years, children enter primary school. Its first two stages – scuola elementare 1 and 2 – free for all. All general education at this stage – reading, writing, drawing, arithmetic, music, etc. – are required, by the desire to study a religion. Curricula usually include also the study of a foreign language.
Children learn five days, about 30 hours a week. At the end of each stage they are tested. Interesting detail: disabled children learn together with all. Traditionally Italian classes in public schools are very large. Private schools identical to the state program, but the schools of this type may not claim their certificates, so their students take state exams to receive the appropriate certificate.
Diplomas and exams
After the first five-year cycle (the first two steps) take a written and oral examination. According to their results is issued a certificate of primary school (diploma di licenza elementare), and students go to high school (scuola media), where the study of 14. At this stage, students study the Italian language, history, geography, mathematics, science, foreign language, art, music.
After each grade exams take place on the system “put – do not put.” If a student does not stand this test, it is left for the second year. Upon completion of your course in the scuola media shall be final: the Italian, mathematics and foreign language – written on other subjects – verbal.
Vocational education
High school graduates can enroll in schools of different profiles that are listed in the Italian system of higher secondary school (scuola secondaria superiore). These are analogues of vocational schools (technical institutes, vocational schools, art schools) and high schools. They are learning from 14 to 19 years. Screenings great: a five-year course of study ends, only half received.
Preparation for university studies
There are three varieties: classic (liceo classico), technical (liceo tecnico) and science (liceo scientifico). The program includes all the schools of Italian literature, Latin, mathematics, physics, science, philosophy, and history.
Graduates pass the exam (esame di maturita), very similar to the French examination for the degree YOU, and a matriculation certificate (diploma di maturita), with which you can go to university. In the classical high school is general preparation for university and its graduates are eligible to apply to any faculty. Accordingly, in the face of two other types of emphasis on the study of various sciences.
The rest of this level of education is carried out training. These include nine technical institutes (istituto tecnico) and professional institutions (istituto professionale), that teach crafts, commerce and hotel business.