5.7 “Learning to participate” through formal, non-formal and informal learning
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Address
Dipartimento di Studi Politici e Sociali - Università di Salerno
Via Giovanni Paolo Secondo 132
IT-84084 Fisciano (Salerno)
Tel: +39 089 962239
E-Mail:
affaricomunitariinternazionali@governo.it
Website
https://www.politichegiovanili.gov.it/politiche-giovanili/youthwiki/
Policy Framework
At present, in Italy a specific national strategy on social and civic competences does not exists.
Formal learning
In Italy, social and civic competences are part of "civic education". In September 2024, the Ministry of Education and Merit approved new "Guidelines for teaching civic education" (Linee guida per l'insegnamento dell'educazione civica). Civic Education introduced by Law 92/2019 as a compulsory subject applies to all levels of schooling, from early childhood education to upper secondary school. It is a separate subject which must be taught for at least 33 hours a year.
The civic education curricula are based on three main thematic areas: 1) Constitution, national and international law, legality, and solidarity; 2) sustainable development, environmental education, awareness and protection of cultural heritage and of the territory; 3) digital citizenship.
Non-formal and informal learning
Participative structures within formal education settings
Italy supports student participation through formal frameworks such as the Regulations on the Statute of Female and Male Students in Upper Secondary Schools (Regolamento recante lo Statuto delle studentesse e degli studenti della scuola secondaria), issued in 1998. Article 2 of the Statute states that “Students have the right to actively and responsibly participate in the life of the school.” It also affirms that schools must guarantee and regulate the exercise of students’ rights to meet and organise assemblies at the class, course, and school level, promoting democratic engagement and civic responsibility within the educational environment.
Student participation in school life is further reinforced by the Legislative Decree 297/1994. Article 13 establishes that student assemblies in upper secondary schools are an essential opportunity for democratic participation, aimed at deepening students’ understanding of both school-related and societal issues, contributing to their cultural and civic development.
Measures to encourage student participation in the local community and wider society
The introduction of Civic Education as a compulsory subject (Law 92/2019) and the Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation (Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l’Orientamento - PCTO) represent key measures aimed at fostering student engagement in community and social initiatives. The Civic Education guidelines, developed by the Ministry of Education and Merit, are designed to enhance students’ understanding of citizenship, constitutional values, sustainability, digital responsibility, and civic engagement across all levels of education. In addition, the PCTO, originally conceived as a vocational training tool, often includes activities involving NGOs, local authorities, and community organisations, providing students with meaningful opportunities to apply their knowledge and contribute to society outside the classroom.
Partnerships between formal education providers, youth organisations and youth work providers
Top-level frameworks promote partnerships between schools, youth organisations, and civil society actors to deliver citizenship education and non-formal learning projects. These collaborations are supported by public funds from ministries, as well as through regional youth plans and EU-funded programmes (e.g. Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps).
Supporting non-formal learning initiatives focusing on social and civic competences
In Italy, the third sector plays a central role in promoting non-formal education initiatives which strengthen young people's social and civic competences. Associations, cooperatives, and NGOs are actively involved in designing and delivering projects focused on active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, volunteering, anti-discrimination, and democratic participation. These initiatives are frequently carried out in collaboration with schools, local authorities, and youth services, with public funding available through national, regional, and EU programmes.
Quality assurance/quality guidelines for non-formal learning
Currently there are no specific guides to ensure the quality of participation processes within non-formal learning.
Educator support
In-service training of teachers is mandatory, permanent and structural (paragraph 124 of Law 107/2015). Each educational institution defines the training activities in accordance with the three-year plan of the educational offer, with the results emerging from the improvement plans of the schools (provided by the regulation contained in Decree of the President of the Republic 80/2013), based on the priorities indicated in the national training plan.
There is no educational framework for youth workers, but there are a number of training initiatives implemented at a regional level with the support of the Third sector (Cf. 10).