Italian Technical Schools Reform Sparks Debate on Education's Purpose

An article by Anita Romanello for Assemblea Scuola Torino, published on doppiozero.com on May 14, 2026, critiques the ongoing reform of technical institutes (istituti tecnici) in Italy. The author frames the reform within a broader conflict between two visions of education: one rooted in the Italian Constitution, which sees school as a means to foster conscious citizens and equal opportunities (Article 3), and another that prioritizes forming 'human capital' for employability and market needs. Romanello argues that the latter vision has been gaining ground for years, reducing education to a tool for economic productivity rather than democratic participation. The reform under discussion is presented as a manifestation of this impoverished approach to schooling.