Italy's high‑school exam sparks political clash over Frank Furedi passage

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara defended the 2026 Italian Maturità exam track that includes a passage by Hungarian sociologist Frank Furedi, writing that “nothing is out of reach for our students” and saying the text promotes critical thinking rather than indoctrination. Opposition lawmakers accused the choice of the text of being a partisan act. AVS deputy Elisabetta Piccolotti called it a “choice by a party school,” while FdI vice‑president Fabio Rampelli hailed it as the end of “left‑wing ideological colonialism.” The debate reflects broader tensions over political content in schools, with Valditara also citing concerns about topics such as gender identity, the Palestinian conflict and referendum campaigning. The controversy has drawn parliamentary attention and highlights ongoing partisan battles over education policy in Italy.