ROME – Latin will return as an option for children in high schools across Italy, along with increased hours allocated to Italian history, as well as study of the Bible. 

 Geo-history will be scrapped in favour of more geography lessons and there shall be a greater emphasis placed on Italian literature, with the teaching of nursery rhymes and poems from infant school and from elementary schools, through the study of music. 

 These are some of new national guidelines for schools, developed by a commission appointed by the Minister for Education, Giuseppe Valditara, which will presumably be introduced from 2026. 

 Undersecretary for Education, Paola Frassinetti, explained that if in primary schools children are introduced to classical epics, Greek mythology and Nordic folklore, then they can also be introduced to the Bible, as it is a text steeped in tradition that has inspired countless works of literature, art, music and the cultural heritage of many civilisations. 

 According to the Minister of Education the basis for this change not to take a more ‘sovereigntist’ approach to education but rather to create a ‘serious’ learning environment. Valditara re-emphasised the importance of children being able to be imaginative and curious but at the expense of their study of grammar. 

 Tommaso Martelli, National Coordinator of the Student Union, has criticised the move denouncing the introduction of Bible in the syllabus as ‘a clear choice in line with the reactionary and conservative ideas of the government.’ 

 Student Media Network added that while they wait for the full syllabus to be released, the government ‘did not think to involve students in this decision’ and ‘from what they can see from the government announcement, these reforms will be purely ideological and harmful.’

 Further criticism comes from Elisabetta Piccolotti, Deputy of Alleanza Verdi Sinistra, who argued that the focus ought to be on seeking economic resources to improve educational activities, reduce the number of students per class and raise teachers’ salaries instead of launching ‘out-dated and ideological ideas.’

  Elly Schlein, Secretary of the Partito Democratico, stated that Valditara has a ‘nostalgic’ idea of what a school is and ‘has confused authoritarianism with authority.’ 

  Valditara has been praised by Forza Italia, Lega and Fratelli d’Italia. 

 ‘The school of the future is one that returns to classical and humanist subjects, those which make our nation singular in the world’, said Vice-President of the Chamber, Fabio Rampelli (FdI). 

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