Italy faces challenges in special education staffing and inclusion

Italy faces ongoing challenges regarding educational inclusion and the stability of support staff for students with disabilities as the 2026/2027 school year approaches. In the Puglia region, the UIL Scuola Puglia union has highlighted a significant imbalance between permanent and temporary staff. The region reports 11,371 support teaching positions filled via derogation, compared to only 10,503 permanent positions. This means derogations exceed the entire permanent staff by 868 positions, or 8.3%. In provinces like Taranto, the gap is even wider, with derogations representing 38.9% more positions than the permanent staff.

Nationally, the National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights (CNDDU) has called for institutional action to ensure continuity for students. This follows a decision by the Council of Europe's European Committee of Social Rights regarding violations of the European Social Charter related to staff precariousness. While ISTAT data shows an increase in the number of support teachers and specialized personnel, concerns remain regarding educational continuity. Approximately 57,000 teachers still lack specific specialization, and nearly 60% of students with disabilities face issues with educational stability.