An increasing number of classes are adopting a textbook for in-school alternative activities to religion classes. Asti, Genoa, and Teramo are considered the most secular provinces.
At the onset of the new academic year, with children returning back to school, the Union of Rationalist Atheists and Agnistics (UAAR) has once again checked the variety of textbooks available for use during the alternative activity program. In doing so, the UAAR has analysed the data available in the “Textbook Adoptions” section of the national School Data Portal for all Italian public primary schools.
For the third consecutive year, we have witnessed a sharp increase in the number of classes where pupils—whose parents chose “educational and training activities” instead of Catholic religious education—will receive a free textbook to aid in the coverage of the material for the two weekly hours of secular subject matter. Currently, the court has reached 16,313 classes, with a 33% increase compared to the previous academic year, and a 153% increase when compared to the 2023/2024 academic year. Overall, although this represents solely 13.05% of all classes, the fact that the figure was 9.54% last year, and 5.63% two years ago, is worthy of mention.
UAAR also conducted a territorial distribution analysis of the phenomenon. From which, the following results emerged: the most secular province is Asti (where 49.9% of public primary school classes adopted the alternative textbook), followed by Genoa (49.89%), Teramo (47.06%), Livorno (46.95%), and Ravenna (37.22%). When considering the percentage of schools, as opposed to the classes, the analysis showed that the figures exceed 50% in the same provinces (Livorno 58.82%, Genoa 55.9%, Ravenna 54.67%, Asti 51.90%, Teramo 50.53%). The aforementioned analysis also showed that at the bottom of the list, with a bleak 0%, are the provinces of Avellino, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Caltanissetta, Enna, Grossetto, La Spezia, Matera, Pescara, Siracusa, and Vibo Valentia.
«There is an apparent growing desire for secularism among families» stated Roberto Grendene, UAAR’s National Secretary, «and an increasing secular sensitivity among teachers, who are approving the adoption of textbooks for alternative activities in greater numbers. This is a tool that not only guarantees equal educational dignity for children entitled to alternative activities, but can also prove to be essential for teachers who are often assigned to classes at the last minute as this would enable them in organizing meaningful and engaging classes.»
Based on the aforementioned data, UAAR compiled a list of schools that this academic year, for the first time, have classes where a textbook for alternative activities was adopted. On Monday, September 8th, UAAR wrote to the Principals of these schools to congratulate them on their progress and to offer, as part of its campaign “Books for Those Entitled to Them,” a donation of volumes—either Alternativamente (Raffaello Editore) or Intorno a noi (Giunti Editore)—to cover any remaining classes devoid of textbooks, clearly at no cost to the schools of families.
- Percentages of public primary schools adopting alternative textbooks: map divided by province 2025/26
- Raw data utilized
- Letter to school Principals
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