Education
Italy’s literacy rate of 99 percent reflects its very good education system. The Legatum Institue ranked Italy thirty-eighth in its Education Sub-Index of 142 countries (2014). Legatum also reported that nearly 75 percent of Italians were satisfied with education quality in the country and 89 percent believed children in Italy were learning something new each day. The 10 students to one teacher ratio in Italy is one of the lowest in the world.
Education in Italy is the responsibility of the Italian Ministry of Education. (Translation tool required).
There are four options for schooling your children in Italy: public, private, international and homeschooling. Public schooling is compulsory for children 6 to 16. Children 5 to 11 attend primary school (scuola elementare), which is equivalent to K - 8 in the United States. They then advance to secondary school where they complete the remainder of their studies. In Italy, secondary school (scuola secondaria) is divided into two levels: secondary school level one (scuola secondaria di 1 grado) and higher secondary school (scuola secondaria superiore). Secondary school level one in Italy is the equivalent of middle school in the United States. Students are required to attend until they turn 16 years of age. Textbooks must be purchased at the student’s own expense, despite free schooling. Higher secondary school is optional for students who wish to advance with their studies and is the equivalent to high school in the United States.
Attendance is not free and a tuition fee is charged for qualified students. However, assistance and exemptions are available for students that have low income or meet certain qualifications. Schooling at this level usually lasts for five years, or until the student turns 18 or 19 years old. Students must decide on an area of academic focus prior to enrollment at a higher secondary school. Each higher secondary school offers a variety of subjects that students can take.
After completing their studies at a higher secondary school, students must take and successfully pass an exit exam in order to receive their maturità, which is the equivalent to a high school diploma in the United States. Upon completion, students can begin finding a career or enroll in a University.
In addition to public schools in Italy, private and international schools are viable options, if you can afford them. Private schools are overseen by their respective states and are usually Jesuit. They accept children from a wide age range, usually 6 to 19. The cost to attend a private school in Italy varies, depending upon schools and the services that are offered.
If you want your children to have an education similar to the U.S., you should enroll them in an international school, such as the American Overseas School of Rome. International schools are usually located in the country’s major cities. International schooling is provided for students from elementary school through high school. American college entrance examinations (SAT, ACT and AP) and/or British GSCE A-level examinations are available through most international schools. Most international schools offer either the globally recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) Program or the Cambridge IGCSE, and instruction is conducted in English. Certification from these schools is accepted worldwide for university entrance. A list of some of Italy’s international schools can be found at the U.S. Embassy Italy website.
Home schooling (Scuola Paterna) in Italy is legal, but is extremely rare. Expats must register their intent to home school with the appropriate local school authorities. Article 111 of the 1994 Act states that “parents or guardians must demonstrate that they have the technical or economic capacity to teach their children at home.” Technical capacity means that parents must have completed two full academic years of schooling beyond the level of the children they are teaching. Economic capacity refers to financial means. More information is available at the HSLDA website. If you decide to home school, online programs such as Calvert Education and The Keystone School may be good options.
Healthcare
The average life expectancy in Italy is nearly 83 years. Italy ranked twenty-fourth in the Legatum Institute’s Health Sub-Index (2014) out of 142 countries measured. Legatum also reported that nearly 91 percent of Italians said they were satisfied with their personal health. Italy spends about USD$3,040 per capita on healthcare, more than twice the global average.
Immunization Required
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly encourages travelers to be up-to-date with their routine vaccinations. These include measles/ mumps/ rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/ tetanus (DPT) vaccine and poliovirus vaccine. If expats are going to be in contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals, a rabies vaccination is highly recommended. Vaccinations for hepatitis B are also encouraged. Visit the CDC website prior to your move for the most up-to-date health warnings.
Health Insurance
Italy’s National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) provides residents of Italy who contribute to social security and their family free or low-cost healthcare. This includes doctor visits, treatment, hospital care, subsidized medications, laboratory services and selected specialists. To qualify for SSN, non-EU expats must first establish residency and obtain an Italian identity card. Once accepted, you must get your health card at your nearest local health authority called Azienda Sanità Locale (ASL). Once you have registered you must choose a family doctor. You will then be issued your health card, which must be shown in order to receive SSN healthcare. Expats must renew their cards annually.
Although SSN is available to expats, many still choose private healthcare coverage for personal choice and access to higher quality services, doctors and hospitals. Many private plans are available for purchase in Italy.
Hospitals
There are 3.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people in Italy, which is above the global average, according to the Legatum Institute. Public hospitals are operated by the National Health Service and charge flat, all-in-one rates that include all medical services, surgery (if required) and bed and board. Residents of Italy who are covered by the National Health Service (and their dependents) are provided hospital services free of charge. Visitors or those not enrolled under the National Health Service plan are expected to pay hospital charges in full and then claim a reimbursement from their insurance carrier, if applicable. Some hospitals do not take credit cards, but will agree to bill patients after discharge. There are also a number of private hospitals and clinics offering a wide range of medical services. Charges, although variable, are generally much higher than those charged by public hospitals.
The U.S. Embassy in Italy provides information on hospitals with English-speaking staff in major cities.
Doctors
All practicing physicians in the country must receive a Diploma di abilitazione all’esercizio della medicina e chirurgia conferring the right to practice medicine and surgery. Either the State Examining Commission of Italy or an Italian University awards the diploma. Patient care is excellent in Italy with 3.49 doctors for every 1,000 patients compared with 3.8 per 1,000 patients in the U.S., according to the World Health Organization (WHO). For a list of English-speaking doctors in Italy’s major cities, visit the U.S. Embassy in Italy website.
Dentists
There are fewer dentists than doctors in Italy, only .4 per 1,000 people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Italy, dentists must complete six years of undergraduate study to earn a degree and then must be licensed by the Ministry of Health before practicing. For a list of English-speaking dentists in Italy’s major cities, visit the U.S. Embassy in Italy website.
Emergency Medical Care
The emergency telephone number in Italy is 112. The number to dial for an ambulance is 118. If you wish to speak to the state police, dial 113.
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