A ban on mobile phones in classrooms, a stricter conduct grade system, changes to the high school exit exam, and, from 2026, new curricula for elementary and middle schools are among the key changes set to reshape the Italian education system as the new academic year approaches.
Effective this September, the use of mobile phones will be prohibited during lessons in all schools, at every level. The Ministry of Education issued a circular in June that extends the ban—already in place for lower grades—to high school students, barring phone use during instructional time and throughout the school day.
This is one of the most significant new measures, but not the only one. New rules on conduct grades also take effect in September. Students who receive a grade of 5 (out of 10) in conduct will now have to repeat the year. High school students receiving a 6 will have their promotion deferred until September, where they must pass a test on civic education values to advance. The conduct grade, expressed in tenths, is also being reinstated in middle schools and will count toward the grade point average. Furthermore, this grade must now reflect behavior across the entire school year, not just a single semester.
For final-year high school students, a critical essay on active and supportive citizenship will be a required part of the oral portion of the State Exam. The conduct grade will also impact the credits needed for exam admission: the highest credit score can only be awarded to students with a conduct grade of at least 9.
The policy on suspensions has been modified. For suspensions lasting up to two days, students will be required to participate in workshops addressing the behavior that led to the disciplinary action. For suspensions exceeding two days, students must perform community service at designated facilities.
New guidelines on Civic Education and Education in Relationships, along with harsher penalties—including arrest—for those who assault school staff, are already in effect for the 2024-2025 school year.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara also announced changes to the high school exit exam (Maturità), with significant revisions planned for the oral portion, which will become multidisciplinary to assess competencies acquired during the school cycle. Furthermore, students who refuse to take the oral exam—a form of protest that resulted in promotion for some this year—will now be automatically failed. While the first written test (Italian) remains unchanged, the second, subject-specific written test may be revised.
A further change, scheduled for the 2026-2027 school year, will involve a revision of the elementary and middle school curricula. Finally, the minister announced that future social housing projects will include rent-controlled apartments reserved for school employees, particularly those who relocate for work.