Rising school textbook costs burden Italian families

Rising costs for school textbooks are placing a significant financial burden on families in Italy. In Catanzaro, students entering the first year of industrial institutes or classical high schools face costs ranging from 350 to 500 euros, while scientific high school students spend approximately 380 euros.

Specific subjects such as mathematics and philosophy have seen notable price hikes, with individual texts costing between 40 and 60 euros. The demand for used books has declined because new editions often render previous versions obsolete, a trend exacerbated by the requirement to write directly in books and the use of single-use digital codes.

The consumer association Adoc has called for government intervention to protect the right to education. To mitigate these costs, Adoc proposes a 19% tax deduction for textbooks, similar to healthcare expenses, alongside increased funding for school libraries and the promotion of book reuse and lending programs.