Italian teacher training and mentorship reforms

The Italian Ministry of Education and Merit has established a teacher tutor system to support newly hired educators during their probationary periods. Under this framework, school principals appoint tutors to assist trainees with lesson planning and classroom management through a structured ‘peer to peer’ process involving 12 hours of joint planning and observation.

Following the implementation of INDIRE courses, educators and advocacy groups have called for greater stability and continuity in special education training. While proponents describe the INDIRE model as effective and equitable, noting that specialized teachers have successfully entered permanent roles without the additional 12.5 points granted to standard Teacher Training Course (TFA) graduates, some teachers face professional uncertainty due to the lack of a confirmed third training cycle.

Discussions are now underway regarding a potential third cycle of INDIRE training paths for specialization in educational support. These programs, which allow teachers with three years of service or foreign qualifications to follow an abbreviated route to qualification, are currently permitted under regulations active until December 31, 2026. Mario Pittoni, National Head of the Education Department for the Lega, suggested this third cycle could serve as the foundation for an updated recruitment mechanism.

Politically, there is a push for a dual recruitment channel to provide structural stability for precarious teachers, aiming to move beyond temporary measures and emergency competitions. The Ministry continues to consider reforms to initial training, including revising the TFA and creating diversified access paths for teachers with at least three years of service in state schools, alongside ongoing negotiations with the European Union.