ABSTRACT
In Italy the whole of primary, secondary and higher education is managed centrally by the Minister of Public Instruction. The biggest group of ‘handicapped’ children is those categorized as 'mentally retarded'. The Constitutional Court made a ruling concerning the enrolment and attendance of handicapped children up to second grade in high school in 1987. Italy education system is a unidimensional single education framework for all children and there are nine years of compulsory schooling. Compulsory education is governed by national laws and regulations which apply throughout the country in both public and private establishments. All Italian parents are very much in favour of inclusion or the integration of all pupils into mainstream schools. The main bodies responsible for the organization of education are the nine general management units which cover the following areas: primary; secondary; classical and scientific, and technical education; professional training; cultural exchanges; personnel and administration; buildings and equipment.
