Italy’s state schools will hire over 54,000 teachers across all levels next academic year, including 13,860 support staff and 6,022 Catholic religion instructors, following the 2024 recruitment competition. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara hailed the “record-breaking” figures, stating, “We prioritized continuity in support teaching, recognizing its vital importance for vulnerable students. For Catholic religion teachers, this marks the largest permanent recruitment drive in two decades.”
Undersecretary Paola Frassinetti emphasized the government’s commitment: “Our concrete actions demonstrate tangible focus on school improvement.”
However, unions contested the announcement, noting temporary contracts will still exceed 250,000 positions. The FLC CGIL union highlighted that only 48,000 permanent hires address over 90,000 vacant teaching and support staff roles, while approximately 160,000 positions will remain temporarily filled. “Suppléance contracts will surpass 250,000 again next year,” the union stated.
UIL Scuola Secretary Giuseppe D’Aprile acknowledged “positive signals” but warned: “This doesn’t structurally resolve precarious employment.” He revealed school temporary contracts have more than doubled since 2015, surging from 126,679 to nearly 286,000. “Temporary work has become systemic, not transitional,” D’Aprile asserted. CISL Scuola echoed these concerns.
Unions further criticized the silence on hiring for educators and administrative staff (ATA), who constitute over one-third of school employees. They also questioned the logic of new competitions when regional eligibility lists are scheduled for 2026 under recent legislation. A union leader noted the current competition was “mandated by PNRR rules,” adding: “We urge an end to chaotic recruitment cycles and demand the dual-channel hiring system we’ve advocated since 2015.”
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