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What is the future of the Made in Italy high school?

Schools and Students Remain Unconvinced

 What is the future of the Made in Italy high school? Schools and Students Remain Unconvinced

For a few days now, middle school students have been able to apply for enrollment in high schools for the upcoming year. Among the available options, the curriculum focused on Made in Italy continues to be offered for high schools. Introduced by Giorgia Meloni's government in 2023, it had been heavily promoted by the majority party since the electoral campaign, to the point that it was initially thought a new type of school would be created, similar to classical or scientific high schools. However, the Made in Italy curriculum is merely an additional option offered within human sciences high schools with an “economic-social” focus. The main difference is the inclusion of specific subjects related to Made in Italy. As reported in the official government communications, the aim of this curriculum is to «promote knowledge and skills linked to the excellence of Italian products and tradition.» “Legal Sciences for Made in Italy” and “Economic Sciences for Made in Italy” are some of the courses offered in place of others, along with subjects like “History of Design.” The law introducing the Made in Italy high school also provided for the creation of a foundation meant to act as a bridge between the educational and entrepreneurial sectors, promoting collaboration between companies and students enrolled in this curriculum – with the goal of facilitating young people’s entry into the workforce. However, according to many education experts, the Made in Italy high school is less about providing students with a comprehensive education and more about advancing partisan propaganda while prematurely steering young people toward specific career paths, typically entrepreneurial – a role that should instead belong to universities.

The Made in Italy high school continues to generate little enthusiasm, both among students and schools. Last year, only about a hundred schools applied to activate it – roughly one in five of those eligible (approximately 500 human sciences high schools with an “economic-social” focus across Italy). The region with the most Made in Italy high schools is Sicily, which has 17, followed by Lombardy with 12. However, for the next school year, many schools have abandoned this curriculum: in Sicily, for instance, only two are reportedly left, according to Repubblica, which describes it as a «flop.» During the last enrollment period, interest among students was minimal – estimated at just 0.1% of the total. At the Made in Italy high school in Crema, for example, only one person applied. In this context, almost all the schools that promoted the curriculum failed to form even one class – and the few students enrolled ended up in the human sciences high school, which already has a very similar program. In many cases, not even the Ministry of Education’s derogation to lower the minimum number of students required for a class, which was reduced to 17 for the Made in Italy high school, was enough.

The Made in Italy high school is not taking off

@italiavivaufficiale Al Liceo del Made in Italy non vuole andare nessuno. Vi diamo 3 motivi per cui questa è l'ennesima pagliacciata del Governo Meloni. Voi vi iscrivereste? #governomeloni #liceodelmadeinitaly #giorgiameloni #scuola #liceo #meloni #governo suono originale - Italia Viva

Even for the 2025/2026 school year, it will be challenging to reach the minimum number of students needed to form classes. The Ministry of Education believes otherwise, but education professionals – including many school principals – argue that not much will change. Observers have low expectations because, in recent months, there has been little promotion of this curriculum and its educational opportunities. During open days, the interest shown by students and families in this option appears to have been rather limited. In this context, the Ministry of Education recently decided to postpone the enrollment period for high schools, pushing it back by two weeks. Officially, this decision was motivated by the desire to give families and students more time to decide and schools more opportunities to showcase their educational offerings. However, the Ministry of Education also issued a note encouraging schools to particularly promote the Made in Italy high school, a move that has raised eyebrows. Many observers interpreted this as an attempt by the government to boost participation in a school project strongly desired by the right-wing majority, using the education system as a propaganda tool.