Italy

Language and Literacy

In Italy, the official language of instruction for all school subjects is Italian. In certain areas of the country populated by native speakers of other languages, local languages are used for school instruction. In particular, the state safeguards 12 minority languages spoken in certain regions of the country, but only four of these languages are legally recognized: French (in Valle d’Aosta), Slovenian (in Friuli-Venezia Giulia), German (in the province of Bolzano), and Ladin (in Trentino-Alto Adige and the province of Trento). In these regions, students may attend schools in which the language of instruction is that of their respective linguistic minority.