Monitoring the Quality of Catholic Schools in Italy

Abstract

The fourth monitoring of the quality of Catholic schools in Italy, published by the Study Centre for Catholic School, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of Italian Catholic schools. The monitoring analyses a large amount of data, providing a detailed snapshot of the system. Catholic schools in Italy are going through a difficult period, as shown by the steady decline in the number of schools and pupils, but the quality of education remains high. The economic difficulties faced by schools limit access for the poorest social classes and reduce the planning capacity of schools, but there is a clear commitment to welcoming disabled and foreign pupils, updating teaching methods, reducing disciplinary problems. Above all, standardised tests that assess the learning of all Italian students each year show that Catholic schools perform significantly better than others.