Overview
- The INVALSI national report presented on July 16 shows Italy has not returned to 2019 pre‑pandemic attainment levels with a large, nationally representative sample of about 2.4 million students.
- Primary‑school mathematics is the sharpest weakness, with the share reaching at least the base level falling about three percentage points since the last round so only just over 60% meet the minimum and roughly 40% do not.
- Results at the end of upper secondary improved, with the share meeting target math levels rising from 49% to 52%, and English and digital skills showing strong gains across grades.
- Early‑school leaving appears to be falling towards 7.3% in 2026 and the education minister says roughly 520,000 young people have been "recovered" since 2022, a pace that would put Italy ahead of the EU 2030 target if confirmed.
- Large territorial gaps persist despite southern progress, with Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria recording high shares at the lowest performance levels, and INVALSI says there is no single proven cause so policies focus on new curricula, tutoring and southern initiatives.