Censis: Maturità Still Central in Italian Students' Imaginary

According to the Censis, the Italian high school final exam (esame di maturità) remains a central rite of passage in the imagination of students. The data shows that 58.3% of students consider it a significant step in their personal growth, and among those aged 18 to 24 who have graduated, 62.5% identify it as a transition to adulthood, while 58% see it as a springboard to the future. However, for 51.9%, the exam does not leave a significant memory. These figures highlight the need for studies and research that can address the school experience from within, using scientific methodologies typical of the anthropology of institutions (participant observation) or the sociology of education (context analysis based on quantifiable data). The school is known to be a loosely coupled organization characterized by strong heterogeneity, which complicates the possibility of producing general observations. The article, titled "Voci: ritorno a scuola" (Voices: Back to School), is authored by Vincenzo Sorella and Anita Romanello, and was published on doppiozero.com on August 24, 2026. It discusses the socializing role of school and the importance of understanding the educational experience from the inside.