Italian school seismic safety and infrastructure

Data from the Ministry of Education and Merit regarding the 2023-2024 school year highlights significant regional disparities in earthquake safety compliance across Italy. While Valle d'Aosta leads with 87.2% of school buildings having undergone static testing, the national average stands at 53.3%, with Lazio reporting the lowest compliance at 28%. In Sicily, Syracuse is noted as the only province to exceed the national average for seismic regulations in zone 2 schools, whereas provinces like Agrigento, Caltanissetta, and Palermo show significant gaps in structural testing and evacuation planning.

To address these seismic risks, construction projects for 428 anti-seismic schools are scheduled to resume in October. This follows a successful campaign to secure 463 million euros in refinancing after previous European Investment Bank funding expired due to administrative issues and pandemic-related delays. The initiative, supported by a June 2025 government decree, includes 31 schools in Calabria.