Academic resilience and policy reform in Italy

This chapter examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Italian education system, analyzing both cognitive learning loss and the deterioration of non-cognitive skills. Italy's highly tracked system, with early selection at age 14 into academic (licei), technical, or vocational pathways, already exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities, which were intensified by the pandemic. Extended school closures—among the longest in the West—and a shift to remote learning led to significant, uneven learning losses. Standardized test (INVALSI) data from 2019–2024 reveal sustained deficits in core competencies, particularly in mathematics and Italian literacy, with older upper-secondary students (grade 13) experiencing the most severe declines. In contrast, English language skills improved, potentially due to increased digital media exposure. The analysis highlights stark regional disparities, with under-resourced Southern Italy disproportionately affected, and a widening of existing gaps between academic tracks and socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, the chapter documents a profound crisis in student well-being. Comparative PISA data (2018 vs. 2022) shows a significant decline in school belonging, increased feelings of loneliness, and reduced overall life satisfaction, especially among disadvantaged students. Remote learning eroded crucial peer interactions and strained socioemotional development. Italy’s policy response prioritized infrastructural modernization and digital device distribution but lacked a coordinated national strategy for targeted academic recovery or socioemotional support. Interventions were fragmented, reactive, and insufficiently evaluated. The authors conclude that the pandemic exposed and amplified systemic weaknesses. They argue for a dual-horizon policy approach: immediate, targeted tutoring and mental health support for recovery, coupled with long-term structural reforms. These include postponing early tracking, systematically integrating socioemotional learning into curricula, bridging the digital divide, and establishing robust monitoring systems to build a more equitable and resilient education system.