Save the Children report highlights high dropout rates in Italian vocational schools

A new report by Save the Children reveals significant disparities in Italy's education system. While Italy's overall school dropout rate of 8.2% for youth aged 18 to 24 is slightly below the European Union average of 9.1%, deep inequalities persist.

Dropout rates in vocational institutes reach 5.3%, which is approximately four times higher than the 1.3% rate seen in high schools (licei). Technical institutes report a rate of 3.7%. Regional disparities are also evident, with dropout rates at 13.7% in the Islands compared to 6.8% in the North East.

Socioeconomic factors heavily influence educational outcomes. The probability of completing secondary education is significantly lower for students whose parents have only a middle school diploma compared to those with university degrees. Additionally, youth with foreign citizenship face a dropout rate of 26.2%, roughly 20 percentage points higher than Italian citizens. The report arrives amid discussions regarding the reform of technical and professional training, including the implementation of the '4+2' model involving ITS Academy.