ABSTRACT
The debate on religion and education has long-term roots in Italy, even though it appears to be quite narrowed to specific areas of the public sphere. When migration flows increased the visibility of non-Catholic religions in Italy, has the topic resurfaced and enlarged its audience and participants. The issue of religion in education addresses different and interconnected topics, which relate to faith-based schools in the public education system, and religious instruction in public schools. In both confessional and non-confessional education the purposes of religious instruction range from a 'denominational approach', in which the instruction is focused on one religion, to a 'religious studies approach', which focuses on religious diversity and the history of religions. The discussion revolved around two topics: the difference between formal and substantial inclusion of faith-based schools in public education, and the status of religious instruction in public schools. The Minister of Education Giuseppe Fioroni, allowed the inclusion of religious instruction grades in the students' final evaluation.
