This year also, among the amendments to the budget law, were Voucher 1,500 euros for those who enroll their children in first and second level private schools. The steps proposed by Mariastella Gelmini for We are Moderateadded to that done by Alloysigned by Massimiliano Romeo, who wanted to exclude equivalent workers from paying IMU. The opposition criticized something else privilege given to private institutions, and accused the Government of continuing to benefit private schools and taking resources from the state system.
The amendment, supported by Forza Italia and Fratelli d’Italia, stipulates that contributions will be paid to families with ISEE under 30 thousand euroslimited to the first year of enrollment. The vouchers, the majority argued, would allow “middle class” families to transfer to schools deemed best suited for their children, thereby reducing the cost of private schools. To cover the costs of these actions, it is estimated at: 20 million eurosWe Moderates intend to provide funding cuts for structural economic policy interventions. The opposition rejected this approach, speaking openly of “gifts” disguised as social acts, and noting that private schools were not public institutions and that the Constitution, while providing the freedom to establish non-state schools, stipulated that they should not be a burden on state finances. The fear, as underlined by the PD, M5S and Left-Green Alliance, is that such action will trigger a parallel education systemsupported with public funds, but without state school obligations, making a progressive contribution privatization education. The current executive support for private schools was well expressed by Prime Minister Meloni himself in August, from the stage of the Rimini Summit: «Italy remains the last country in Europe that does not have effective educational equality, and I believe that it is right to think about this issue progressively, with common sense, but above all by eliminating the ideological prejudices that have for too long prevented this topic from being discussed seriously».
However, the trend toward giving more state funding to private schools began long before the current executive took office. In 2020, similar institutions received a good response 150 million euros in PNRR funds by the government. In 2022, in the budget law, the Meloni government has provided financing 70 million euros to private institutions. Furthermore, through two decisions signed by the Minister of Education Valditarathe government has allocated 750 million euros for private schools in 2024-2025, an increase of 50 million compared to the previous year. In 2024, a contribution of 1,500 euros is made to families who have chosen private schools for their children’s education. Italian Brothers signed by deputies Lorenzo Malagola and Giovanni Coppo, prompting strong criticism from the opposition. The difference compared to the vouchers proposed today by Noi Moderati is basically the income threshold up to 40 thousand euros. Ultimately, the controversy led to a setback and the amendment was not approved.
According to teachers associations, unions and analysts, increasing funding for private institutions risks taking resources away from a public system already constrained by unstable staff, inadequate buildings and inadequate investment. The steady growth in government funding for private schools is part of a process that began several years ago, driven by government policy liberalization policy which has pushed education towards an increasingly market-based logic. Since the first maneuvers carried out by the current government, state schools have remained marginalized, while support for private schools has been expanded in line with the previous government. A clear direction is emerging: the strengthening of the private sector is occurring alongside a progressive weakening of the state system, thereby outlining an educational model that risks shifting attention from collective interests to market dynamics.
