The education system in Italy is organized according to the subsidiary principle and autonomy of schools. The State has exclusive competence on general issues on education, on minimum standards to be guaranteed throughout the country and on the fundamental principles that Regions should comply with within their competences.

Regions share their competences with the State on education issues while they have exclusive competence on vocational education and training. Schools are autonomous as for didactic, organization and research and development activities.

The education system is organized as follows:

• Pre-primary school (scuola dell'infanzia) for children between 3 and 6 years of age;
• first cycle of education lasting 8 years, made up of:
  - primary education (lasting 5 years), for children between 6 and 11 years of age;
  - lower secondary school (lasting 3 years) for children between 11 and 14 years of age;
• second cycle of education offering two different pathways:
  - State upper secondary school (lasting 5 years) for students from 14 to 19 years of age. It is offered by licei, technical institutes and vocational institutes;
  - three and four-year vocational training courses (IeFP) addressed to students who have completed the first cycle of education. It is organized by the Regions.
• post-secondary non tertiary education offered through:
  - post-qualification and post-diploma vocational courses organized by the Regions;
  - Higher technical education and training courses (IFTS).
• higher education offered by universities and the High level arts and music education system. This level of education is organized, according to the Bologna Process, in a three-year first cycle followed by a two-year second cycle.

After completion of the first cycle of education, the last two years of compulsory education (from 14 to 16 years of age) can be accomplished either in State upper secondary schools or through the three-year vocational education and training courses, falling under the competence of the Regions.

In addition, all have the right/duty (diritto/dovere) to education and training for at least 12 years in the education system or, anyhow, until they have obtained a three-year vocational qualification within 18 years of age.

Finally, 15-year olds can attend the last year of compulsory education also through the apprenticeship, previous specific agreement signed by the Regions, the Ministry of labour, the Ministry of education and trade unions.

The three-year vocational qualification, as well as the four-year vocational diploma, both obtained at completion of regional vocational training courses, allow access to regional second level vocational training, which can be access also with an upper secondary education leaving certificate. This latter certificate also grants admission to Higher technical education and training courses (IFTS).