THE ITALIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOOLfrom

THE ITALIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOOL(from 0 to 3 yearold children): from Monday to Friday from 7. 30 to 16. 00, there is the possibility to ask the extension until 6 p. m. if both the parents work. It runs from the first September to 30 th July. KINDERGARTEN(from 3 to 6 year-old children): from Monday to Friday from 7. 30 to 16. 00. Kindergarten starts on the first of September and ends on 30 th June.

FIRST CYCLE OF EDUCATION: PRIMARY SCHOOL 6 - 11 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN - If the child’s birthday is by 31 st December of the referring school year, he/she MUST enrol in the school’s first grade. - If the child’s birthday is by 30 th April of the referring school year, he/she CAN enrol in the first grade.

SCHOOL TIMETABLE STANDARD TIMETABLE, parents can choose between: - 24 lessons a week Class teacher+English+Religoius Education - 27 lessons a week TIMETABLE ON REQUEST: Class teacher +English+R. E. - 30 lessons a week - 40 lessons a week (full time school) Two class teachers+English+R. E.

LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL ORDINARY TIMETABLE: 30 lessons a week EXTENDED TIMETABLE: from 36 to 40 lessons a week Classes where students play a musical instrument: extra music lessons are optional

Examinations At the end of the Primary school students do not have to take an exam and they get Elementary Licence At the end of lower Secondary School students must take an exam to get the diploma of Middle School

UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL Students enrol after lower secondary school and they can choose among different options:

LICEI - HIGH SCHOOLS There are six kinds of high schools with a different emphasis, they are preparatory to university: CLASSICAL SCIENTIFIC LINGUISTIC ARTISTIC MUSICAL AND DANCING HUMAN SCIENCE FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING • A foreign language is taught in all the high schools. • Students must study English in all the kinds of high schools for 5 years.

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS At the end of a technical high school students can get a job or go to university. There are two main sectors with different emphasis: ECONOMIC SECTOR TECHNOLOGIC SECTOR

VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS Students study to learn how to do a job. They can choose between : - A state vocational school to get a diploma. This school lasts five years and after certificate students can attend university. - A regional vocational school to get a qualification as operator or technician. This kind of school lasts three or four years. After this qualification students cannot go to university.

After Secondary School After attending a five-year institute and getting a certificate students can continue studying in a university or in another institute.

UNIVERSITY According to the European pattern, there is a three-year degree (except for some subjects like Medicine) plus a two-year specialization. After 3 years students can get a Degree and after the biennium students can get a Specialised Degree. Ater that students can choose post graduate studies like a Master or a Phd.

SCHOOL HABITS • Schools start lessons between 8. 00 and 830 and finish lessons between 13 and 14. English and the study of another European language are compulsory (the second language is compulsory only in Lower Secondary Schools). • There are two lessons of Physical Education a week. • In our classes there are usually about 25 students; every class has a classroom so teachers move around the classrooms and students stay in the same classroom all school year long. • There are no lessons in the afternoon except for the students who play a musical instument at school. • The school year starts in the second half of September and ends between 10 and 15 June. Christmas holidays last 15 days and Carnival and Easter holidays last three days or a week(it depends on the regional calendar). • Students go to school from Monday to Saturday (in big cities some students go to school from Monday to Friday and have lessons in the afternoon). • At the end of the term students get a report with marks in all subjects and they bring it home.