Valditara's School Reform: A Nostalgic Turn Toward Tradition

Italian Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara has unveiled new national guidelines for primary and middle schools, sparking controversy for their traditionalist and Italocentric approach. The reforms, effective from the 2026-2027 school year, include reintroducing Latin as an optional subject in middle schools (abolished in 1978), studying the Bible alongside mythology and classical epics in primary schools, separating history and geography (ending 'geostoria'), and emphasizing memorization of poetry and haiku. Music and art education will begin in primary school. While some proposals like early literature study are welcomed, critics—including the CGIL union and PD secretary Elly Schlein—accuse Valditara of promoting a backward-looking, nationalist agenda. The minister defends the initiative as sparking a 'great cultural debate,' with final decisions expected by end of March after consultations. The commission drafting the guidelines includes historian Ernesto Galli della Loggia, Latinist Andrea Balbo, Accademia della Crusca president Claudio Marazzini, and violinist Uto Ughi—all elderly men. The last curriculum update was in 2012 under minister Francesco Profumo.