Istat Reports Increase in Students with Disabilities in Italian Schools

Rome: The number of students with disabilities has risen in Italy’s schools, with nearly 356,000 such pupils enrolled in the 2023-2024 academic year, accounting for 4.5% of the total student population. This marks a 6% increase compared to the previous year, as reported by Istat on Tuesday.

According to Ansa News Agency, there has been an overall increase of 75,000 students with disabilities enrolled in Italian schools over the past five years, reflecting a 26% rise, as noted by the national statistics bureau. The report also highlighted a growing number of teachers supporting students with special needs, with the percentage rising from 63% to 73% over four years.

However, the report indicates that a significant number of teachers still lack specific training, with 27% across Italy and 38% in the North. Additionally, 11% of teachers are assigned to classes late during the academic year, according to the agency.

Moreover, Istat found that, on average, 57% of students with disabilities experienced a change in their support teacher from one year to another.