Lower Secondary School Attendance at lower secondary school
(scuola media, literally ‘middle school’ and equivalent to a
junior high school in the US) is compulsory for all children
between the ages of 11 and 14. As with primary school, there’s a
national curriculum that must be studied by all children. In
addition, the numbers of hours each subject must be taught each
week is stipulated by the Ministry of Education. For the first
and second years, the weekly requirements include: - seven hours
of Italian (including lessons in literature, grammar and
writing); - six hours of mathematics, physics, chemistry and
natural sciences; - four hours of history, geography and social
studies; - three hours each of a foreign language (usually
English) and technical drawing; - two hours each of physical
education, music and art/design; - one hour of religion. In the
third year, pupils lose one hour of Italian in favour of an
extra hour of history, geography and social studies. Each
subject is taught by a different special