Italy sees rise in secular textbooks for school alternative hours

The availability of secular textbooks for alternative religious education hours in Italian state primary schools is increasing. According to the fourth survey by Uaar, 16 provinces have seen the percentage of classes guaranteeing these textbooks exceed 33%. The highest rates are found in Asti (64.46%), Teramo (53.37%), and Genova (48.20%).

Overall, classes where students receive free secular textbooks instead of those conforming to Church doctrine have reached 17.02%, up from 5.63% three years ago. The data shows a geographic divide, with most high-performing provinces located in Central and Northern Italy, while areas south of Rome remain significantly below the national average. Uaar has launched a campaign titled ‘Libri per chi ha diritto di averli’ (Books for those who have the right to have them) to support this transition.