2. TheThe school yearschool year usually starts towardsusually starts towards
the middle of September and finishesthe middle of September and finishes
towards the middle of June.towards the middle of June.
There are aboutThere are about 33 weeks of school33 weeks of school..
There are not mid-term holidays, weThere are not mid-term holidays, we
have only the Christmas and the Easterhave only the Christmas and the Easter
holidays.holidays.
For Christmas we have about 15 days.For Christmas we have about 15 days.
For Easter we have about 5 days.For Easter we have about 5 days.
3. Education in Italy is compulsoryEducation in Italy is compulsory
fromfrom 6 to 166 to 16 years of age.years of age.
It is divided into five stages:It is divided into five stages:
kindergartenkindergarten (scuola dell’infanzia) – from 3 to 5(scuola dell’infanzia) – from 3 to 5
years (not compulsory);years (not compulsory);
primary school (scuola primaria or elementare) –primary school (scuola primaria or elementare) –
from 6 to 10;from 6 to 10;
Lower secondary school orLower secondary school or middle schoolmiddle school (scuola(scuola
secondaria di primo grado or scuola media) –secondaria di primo grado or scuola media) –
from 11 to 13;from 11 to 13;
Upper secondary school orUpper secondary school or high schoolhigh school (scuola(scuola
secondaria di secondo grado or scuola superiore)secondaria di secondo grado or scuola superiore)
– from 14 to 18;– from 14 to 18;
university (università) – from 19.university (università) – from 19.
4. SUBJECTS AT SCHOOLSUBJECTS AT SCHOOL
InIn primary schoolprimary school we have:we have:
ItalianItalian 6-8 hours6-8 hours
EnglishEnglish 1 hour (first year)1 hour (first year)
2 hours (second year)2 hours (second year)
3 hours (last three years)3 hours (last three years)
MathematicsMathematics 6-7 hours6-7 hours
Life and earth SciencesLife and earth Sciences 2 hours2 hours
HistoryHistory 2 hours2 hours
GeographyGeography 2 hours2 hours
Physical EducationPhysical Education 1-2 hours1-2 hours
MusicMusic 1-2 hours1-2 hours
Art and craft activitiesArt and craft activities 1-2 hours1-2 hours
Lower secondary schoolLower secondary school provides further education on theprovides further education on the
subjectssubjects studied at primary school, with the addition ofstudied at primary school, with the addition of
TechnologyTechnology and aand a languagelanguage other than Englishother than English
(typically French, Spanish or German).(typically French, Spanish or German).
5. IN PRIMARY SCHOOLIN PRIMARY SCHOOL
Until 2004, pupils had to pass an exam toUntil 2004, pupils had to pass an exam to
access Scuola secondaria di primo gradoaccess Scuola secondaria di primo grado
(Lower secondary school), comprising the(Lower secondary school), comprising the
composition of a short elaborate in Italian,composition of a short elaborate in Italian,
a written Math test, and an oral test ona written Math test, and an oral test on
the other subjects. The exam has beenthe other subjects. The exam has been
discontinued and pupils can now enterdiscontinued and pupils can now enter
Middle School directly.Middle School directly.
IN MIDDLE SCHOOLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
At the end of the third year studentsAt the end of the third year students sit ansit an
exam which enables them to continueexam which enables them to continue
their education.their education.
6. In Italy there are a lot of different school organization.In Italy there are a lot of different school organization.
In our primary schoolIn our primary school
our pupils do 37 hours per week.our pupils do 37 hours per week.
They start school at 8.10 and finish at 16.10 (they stay 8 hours) fromThey start school at 8.10 and finish at 16.10 (they stay 8 hours) from
Monday to Thursday.Monday to Thursday.
On Fridays they start school at 8.10 and finish at 12.40. But pupils canOn Fridays they start school at 8.10 and finish at 12.40. But pupils can
stay at school till 16.10 (paying something to the school).stay at school till 16.10 (paying something to the school).
They have lunch at school.They have lunch at school.
In our middle schoolIn our middle school
our pupils do 28 hours per week.our pupils do 28 hours per week.
They start school at 7.55 and finish at 13.30 from Monday to Friday.They start school at 7.55 and finish at 13.30 from Monday to Friday.
7. In Italy there are a lot of different school organization.In Italy there are a lot of different school organization.
In our primary schoolIn our primary school
our pupils do 37 hours per week.our pupils do 37 hours per week.
They start school at 8.10 and finish at 16.10 (they stay 8 hours) fromThey start school at 8.10 and finish at 16.10 (they stay 8 hours) from
Monday to Thursday.Monday to Thursday.
On Fridays they start school at 8.10 and finish at 12.40. But pupils canOn Fridays they start school at 8.10 and finish at 12.40. But pupils can
stay at school till 16.10 (paying something to the school).stay at school till 16.10 (paying something to the school).
They have lunch at school.They have lunch at school.
In our middle schoolIn our middle school
our pupils do 28 hours per week.our pupils do 28 hours per week.
They start school at 7.55 and finish at 13.30 from Monday to Friday.They start school at 7.55 and finish at 13.30 from Monday to Friday.
