As the new year begins, many young Italians are already leaving their school days behind them. According to a study conducted by CGIA based on Eurostat and Istat data, 431,000 people aged 18 to 24 are school dropouts.
In 2023, these young adults admitted to leaving school early, with the majority having only completed middle school. They have not pursued any further education, such as vocational training lasting more than two years, and are not currently enrolled in any educational or training programmes.
This troubling trend of educational poverty is particularly pronounced in Italy’s southern regions but is also a concern in some northern areas. While the national percentage of early school leavers has decreased in recent years, it remains a critical issue, especially for those from families facing significant social or economic challenges.
Young people who drop out early will likely struggle to find stable, well-paid employment. The ongoing ecological and digital transitions will only exacerbate this issue, pushing those without qualifications to the margins of the job market. This problem also affects businesses, as they continue to face difficulties in finding highly specialised workers. Many of these skills are gained through education, such as vocational diplomas, technical qualifications, or university degrees from polytechnic institutes.
Italy falls short in educational investment
The role of vocational education in preventing dropouts
One of the factors contributing to early school dropout rates may be dissatisfaction with the available educational options during secondary school. Vocational education institutions have played a crucial role in addressing this issue. These schools have become a haven for students who have faced academic challenges in the past and those from foreign backgrounds.
Often located in peripheral areas marked by social and urban decay, vocational schools provide an essential service. They act as “antidotes” to educational abandonment, offering students a chance to gain valuable skills and qualifications. Despite limited resources, these institutions continue to support students in challenging environments where youth unemployment is high and crime rates are significant. In many cases, vocational schools are the only state presence in such areas, making them vital outposts of legal and social stability.
Regional disparities in school dropout rates
Italy’s southern regions and islands report the highest levels of early school abandonment. Sardinia tops the list, with a dropout rate of 17.3% in 2023. Sicily follows closely with 17.1%, and surprisingly, the Province of Bolzano registers 16.2%. Other regions, such as Campania (16%), Puglia (12.8%), and Calabria (11.8%), also face significant challenges. In absolute numbers, Campania has the most young people leaving school early, with 72,000 dropouts, followed by Sicily (62,000), Lombardy (53,000), and Puglia (38,000).
Although most regions have seen a decline in dropout rates since 2019, some have experienced an increase. Liguria saw a rise of 0.5%, Veneto and the Province of Trento both registered a 1.5% increase, and the Province of Bolzano saw a significant jump of 4.6%.
Comparing Italy to other European countries
Despite the overall decline in school dropouts across Europe, Italy still ranks poorly in this area. Among the 20 Eurozone countries, Italy and Cyprus share third place for the highest rate of early school leavers aged 18 to 24, with a rate of 10.5%. Only Spain, with 13.7%, and Germany, with 12.8%, perform worse. The Eurozone average stands at 9.8%.
A preference for Technical and Vocational schools in northern regions
Data from the Ministry of Education reveals that, during the 2023/2024 school year, 2,631,879 students enrolled in Italy’s secondary schools. Of these, 51.4% attended a liceo (academic high school), 31.7% a technical institute, and 16.9% a vocational school. Although slightly more students chose academic paths, the preference for technical and vocational education is stronger in northern regions with a high concentration of competitive industries.
In Veneto, for example, 56.9% of students enrolled in technical or vocational schools, followed by Emilia Romagna with 56% and Lombardy with 52.4%. In southern regions, however, academic high schools are more popular, with only Puglia showing a technical/vocational enrolment rate above 50%.
The trend toward academic education in the south could be a contributing factor to the region’s higher dropout rates, as technical and vocational education often offers more practical pathways to employment, particularly in regions with strong industrial sectors.
Italy’s ongoing challenge with early school abandonment highlights the need for targeted interventions, especially in regions where young people face social and economic hardships. Supporting vocational education and providing resources for schools in marginalised areas could be key strategies in reversing this trend and ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to succeed in the rapidly changing job market.
