Learning about the system of education in Italy has been extremely informative and surprising. Some aspects of the structure here in Italy are conducive to the future of young Italians while others are not. The most predominant factors influencing the position of doorways for people living in Italy in regards to education are immigrant/refugee/citizenship status, age, income and cultural expectations.
For immigrants, there are some doors open in Italy that are not open in America, particularly in regards to education. In Italy, students pay tuition based on their income. Immigrants with low income, pay little money. This money is still hard to come by even though it is not very much.
In America, access to and availability of government aid and scholarships is definitely a door we have wide open that is closed in Italy. Stephanie explained to me that scholarships are available but are not easy to get. In America, if one wants to go to college and has the determination to find funding for their education, it is out there for them and they will succeed. In Italy, as an immigrant for example, if college is their dream, it will be a tough road ahead because if money. As I previously stated, tuition is based on ones income – the income that must pay for rent and food as well as education. This is why many have to work while attending college and therefore take many years to graduate. This is also why many do not finish college – working is more important for survival and in order to build a family.
In Italy, a door that is open in regards to the workforce is the option given to high school students to being vocational school before they are done with high school. This also happens in some American schools but is uncommon. In Italy, students finish high school with skills allowing them to immediately join the workforce. This is a very good method for people who do not plan to pursue college. In America, this option is not always available. As a result, youth who do not plan to attend college still must go to a tech school or vocational program AFTER high school graduation, therefore, setting them back two years or so when they cold have been working already. Another point, vocational school in Italy is paid for by the government, as it would be in high schools in America (public schools).
In Italy, certain doors for immigrants are definitely closed. When young immigrant children move to Italy there are very few options for them to learn Italian. They are throw into class with everyone else (native Italians).Anna, from Caritas discussed the fact that ESL classes are only offered in elementary school, if at all, and in high school not at all. Because of this there are very few resources for immigrants coming to Italy as high school students.
In Italy, until 1994, children were not required to attend school. Still this law in not completely enforced. Brenda and some of the others who work at Iqbal Masih say that there are several children who do not attend school for weeks, even months at a time. Some children only come two days a week because of transportation or other reasons. Most of these students are Roma. This is not uncommon to hear because of where many Roma people live and because of their lifestyle. In America, the laws are very different. It is the law that all children are required to attend school. If children are not in school they are deemed truant and the family is investigated.
One thing I find very interesting is that in the Piscane School Chinese classes are taught. In Italy in 1998 a law passed making all languages respected in public schools. These classes, I believe, do not teach language language, but heritage and culture. It is very important for immigrants to build their knowledge of Italy and Italian and life in a new country, but also very important to maintain knowledge of their roots.
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