The schools in Torino and the province are waiting for you: it is your right to go to school, but it is also your duty.
Knowing your rights and knowing how to use the services available is essential for integration between populations and civilized society.
it is important to understand so read this leaflet, which is for all under-eighteens, it will help you to find your
way around the school system.
At school you can learn skills that will help you to enter society and the working world,
becoming a free and responsible citizen.
umberto d’ottavio Councillor for vocational Training
Education and School Buildings province of Torino
WELCOME!
SCHOOL IN ITALY AND IN YOUR COUNTRY
In order to help you understand our school system, we will explain in your language, how the Italian school system works, with respect to your own country.
firSt of all, if you are a foreign citizen with an italian residence permit, you have the right to study in our schools at the same conditions as an Italian citizen.
If you are under 18 yearS of aGe:
• you can study in Italy even if you do not have a residence permit; • you can enrol at any time of the school year;
• you must attend school until you are 16 years old;
• if you are under 16, your parents (or your guardian) can enrol you at school; • if you are 17 or 18 years old and you intend to attend high school (for example the fourth and fifth years of school) or a technical-professional course, you must present a valid secondary school diploma from the Italian Embassy or the italian consulate in your country – it is called a ‘certificate of value’ (certificato
di Valore).
The information in this booklet is updated to the last reform of the Italian school system.
scHools In ItalY from 3 to 19 Years of age
Compulsory education. In Italy all young people must go to school for 10 years, from 6 to 16.
In our school system after taking the State examination at the end of the scuola secondaria di primo grado, you must continue on an educational or a vocational training course.
The aim is to obtain a secondary school diploma or a vocational diploma by the time you are 18.
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Scuola primaria. Children aged 6 to 10 attend the scuola primaria (previously called scuola elementare) for 5 years. you do not take an examination at the end of the course.
Scuola secondaria di primo grado. Children aged 11 to 13 attend the scuola secondaria di primo grado (previously called scuola media) for 3 years.
In order to move on to the scuola secondaria superiore or a vocational training course, you must take the State examination, which concludes the first cycle of education and gives a first grade secondary school diploma (previously called
Licenza Media).
To complete your compulsory education it is necessary to enrol on and attend a second level educational or vocational training course until you are 16. It is possible to choose from a wide range of courses, according to your interests, attitude and expectations.
When the compulsory education is completed, you can continue your course to take a secondary school diploma or a vocational diploma. The vocational diploma, the secondary school diploma (and university qualifications) can all be taken while working by means of apprenticeships (which include specially planned study and work activities).
at the end of the courses, which vary in content and duration, a certificate is issued: a qualification certificate, after 3 years ; a diploma after 5 years (in the case of apprenticeships leading to a vocational diploma the course may last longer than 5 years).
Centri Territoriali Permanenti (CTP). young people aged 16 and over, of any nationality, who want to learn or improve their knowledge of Italian, can attend courses of italian for foreigners and courses leading to the diploma of the scuola secondaria di primo grado (previously called Licenza Media) free of charge. The courses are held at the CTps.
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NOTe! for more information consult the website www.provincia.torino.it/fidati/informarsi
tYpes of course
Liceo
for a more general theoretical preparation and to study humanistic, scientific, linguistic, artistic or pedagogical subjects, it is possible to attend the Liceo (duration: 5 years). At the end of the course, if you pass the State examination, you receive a second grade secondary school diploma - Diploma di istruzione secondaria di secondo grado
(previously called maturità). With this qualification it is possible to enrol at university (an integrative 5th year is required for the artistic liceo) or on other post-diploma
courses.
Technical education
In order to obtain a theoretical and practical preparation with a specialisation, for example in commerce, industry, agriculture, mechanical engineering, computer sciences, etc. it is possible to attend the Istituto Tecnico (duration: 5 years). At the end of the course, if you pass the State examination, you receive a second grade secondary school diploma - Diploma di istruzione secondaria di secondo grado
(previously called maturità). With this qualification you can enter the working world, or continue to study at university and on other post-diploma courses.
Vocational education
this offers a practical preparation and gives you a qualification for immediate entry into the working world. Duration: 3 years . When you have completed the first three years it is possible to continue studying for two more years and obtain a diploma. This will allow you to enrol at university, on Istruzione e formazione tecnica superiore (Ifts) courses and post-diploma courses. Duration: 3 + 2 = 5 years.
Vocational training
The courses organised by the agenzie formative (see list on www.orientarsi.it) correspond to compulsory education courses and grant a vocational diploma, recognised nationally, after the final examination. the courses offer you the chance to learn a trade and become a plumber, an electrician, a secretary, a cook, a carpenter, a goldsmith, a receptionist, etc. Duration: 3 years. There are one-year or two-year
Integrated courses
Technical education
Some technical schools in the province of Torino, in cooperation with the agenzie formative, offer integrated two-year courses.
you attend the school, you learn the theory and for 200 hours per year, with the entire class, you follow practical activities in the workshop and do work experience with specialized teachers.
At the end of the second year you can choose whether: • to continue for another three years and take a diploma; • to continue in vocational training or another year and get a regional vocational qualification.
Duration: 2 + 1 = 3 years or 2 + 3 = 5 years. Vocational education
Some vocational schools in the province of Torino, in cooperation with the agenzie
formative, offer integrated three-year courses.
you attend the school and for 200 hours per year, with the entire class, you follow theoretical-practical activities with specialized teachers.
at the end of the third year you take the state qualification diploma. Duration: 3 years .
Enrolment takes place in January, but you can enrol at any time of the year, if places are available.
NOTe! for more information consult the website www.provincia.torino.it/fidati/informarsi
otHer Important tHIngs to KnoW before enrollIng at a scHool or an agenzIa formatIva
Pre-enrolment
pre-enrolment usually takes place in January (only for the academic year 2009/2010 by the end of february) although it is also possible to enrol after that date.
Documents necessary for enrolling
Generally the following documents are required:
• scholastic documents issued by the school you previously attended (diploma di scuola secondaria di primo grado – first grade secondary school diploma) and, for anyone who has attended high school, photocopies of any reports or certificates issued by the school for educational credits), translated and stamped by the Italian Consulate in your country of origin;
• birth certificate or self-certification;
• photocopy of the European health service card, or photocopy of the tax code card.
Weekly timetable
• scuola dell’infanzia: from a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 40 hours; • scuola primaria: from a minimum of 24 to a maximum of 40 hours;
• scuola secondaria: from a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 40 hours according to the type of school;
• agenzie formative: from a minimum of 30 to a maximum of 35 hours. Absences
all absences, late entrances and early departures from school must be justified by the parents on the pupil’s school diary or on the booklet supplied by the school.
evaluation of scholastic results
At the end of the scuola secondaria di primo grado and the scuola secondaria di secondo grado, pupils take a final examination.
Meetings between parents and teachers
The parents periodically meet the teachers in order to cooperate in the education of their children and talk about their difficulties and their progress. the school/agenzia
formativa communicate the dates of the collective and/or individual meetings with the teachers or with the head of the school/agenzia formativa.
Additional activities
The school may organise additional activities in the afternoon: sports, workshops, free of charge or at very low cost. To take part in activities outside the normal school hours, pupils must have written authorisation from their parents.
The schools and agenzie formative also organise support activities (LARSA or individual support) for pupils who are joining courses already underway, or to facilitate the passage from one course to another.
Scuola media workshops – vocational education and training
If you are between 14 and 16 and you have not yet taken the diploma di scuola secondaria di primo grado (previously called Licenza Media), you can enrol on one of the workshops; this will allow you to take the diploma and gain credits for entering vocational education or training courses. Courses are available for young people aged 16 to 18 who have not yet taken a diploma. further information is available on the website www.provincia.torino.it/fidati/informarsi
activities before and after school (present in the scuola dell’infanzia and in the
scuola primaria).
The school may organise activities before and after school, normally from 07.30 to 08.30 and 17.30 to 18.30, at a reasonable cost.
Study grants
The Regione piemonte has organised an economic contribution (called assegno di studio), differentiated according to the family income, which partially covers the expenses borne by the pupil’s family for enrolment at school or agenzia formativa, for attendance, travel, the purchase of school books and any additional activities.
Contribution for buying school books
Scuola primaria: the books are free of charge. Scuole secondarie di primo e secondo grado: the school (or the local council) can supply the families with low incomes, who present a justified request, with vouchers for purchasing textbooks.
Scholarships
for the pupils of the primary and secondary schools and of vocational training courses, if organised by accredited agenzie formative and finalised in the completion of compulsory education, scholarships are available in case of families with low incomes.
School open days
During the months of November, December and January the secondary schools and the agenzie formative hold ‘open days’ for families and pupils from the scuola media, to illustrate their courses and help with the choice of school.
Information
for detailed information on educational and training courses after the scuola media, consult the “guida per informarsi e orientarsi dopo la terza media 2008” (Guidelines for information and orientation after terza media 2008) on the website of the province of Torino www.provincia.torino.it/orientarsi.
education for adults
parents and adults can also attend courses to learn and study the Italian language and acquire useful skills for their working life. Information is available at the CTps and the State evening schools. for information consult the website of the Province of Torino www.provincia.torino.it/informarsi, or go to the “servizio orientarsi” at the provincia di Torino - corso Inghilterra 7. Information is also available by telephone (tel. 011.861.6552 - 011.861.6253).
