Financial education has become a policy priority in Italy, following the disappointing results of the 2012 PISA assessment, which revealed low levels of financial literacy among 15-year-old students. This paper traces the evolution of financial education initiatives in Italy, critically examining institutional responses, regulatory frameworks, and the monitoring strategies developed over the past fifteen years.
Initially marked by fragmented approaches and local projects, Italy gradually established a national strategy, formalized in 2016 through the coordination of the Ministry of Education and with the involvement of institutional actors such as the Bank of Italy, CONSOB, and the Committee for the Planning and Coordination of Financial Education Activities. The current strategic framework is inspired by OECD principles and aims to provide citizens of all ages with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions.
The presentation highlights the crucial role of monitoring and impact evaluation in ensuring the effectiveness of financial education programs. In this regard, ONEEF—the National Observatory on Economic and Financial Education—promotes the use of standardized indicators to improve program design and ensure transparency. Particular attention is paid to the integration of financial education into school curricula, especially with the 2024 update of the Civic Education Guidelines, which include specific learning objectives across all educational levels, following a vertical and cross-curricular approach.
Finally, the main ongoing challenges are discussed: teacher training, systematic assessment of student learning outcomes, coordination among stakeholders, and the complexity of financial literacy in a rapidly evolving socio-economic context.