The ICMI Representative for Italy is the President of the CIIM (the “Italian Commission for the Teaching of Mathematics”) a permanent consultative Commission of UMI (the "Italian Mathematical Association"). Information in English and in other languages about CIIM may be found here.
The Italian Association for Research in Mathematics Education (AIRDM) gathers all Italian researchers in mathematics education. It aims to promote, stimulate, and support research and studies in mathematics education and the dissemination of research findings. In this way, it seeks to contribute to the improvement of the teaching and learning of mathematics across different levels of schooling.
CIIM is a Commission with the task of examining problems concerning the teaching of mathematics in Italy, at all levels, also taking into account studies and experiences in other countries, and proposing possible solutions. It annually organizes a training school, in collaboration with AIRDM, and a national conference aimed at teachers: the initiatives aimed at teachers of all school levels offer an immersive training experience in a dialogue between educators and researchers in didactics. The contributions of the speakers are made available through the UMI website. CIIM oversees the publication of a series of books entirely dedicated to the problems of teaching mathematics. Furthermore, it advises the Ministry of Education and Merit regarding the mathematics curriculum in schools. UMI also includes a commission that oversees the training for competitions in mathematics, as well as other working groups interested in teaching mathematics, such as DIGiMATH, which reflects on the use of technology in university teaching and Licei Matematici, which implements a school curriculum enhanced in mathematics.
Once a year, AIRDM organizes a two-day national research seminar, preceded by a young researchers' day. The National Research Seminar in Mathematics Education is an annual event for all those involved in mathematics education in Italy—university scholars, school teachers, students, and young researchers. It provides an opportunity to engage in three days of discussion on a specific research topic, presented by an individual or a group and followed by the critical remarks of invited discussants with different backgrounds (research within and outside mathematics education, school and institutions). AIRDM also organizes annual summer and winter schools for PhD students.
Two other national associations that devote their mission broadly to mathematics dissemination and mathematics education are the Mathesis - Società Italiana di Scienze Matematiche e Fisiche and the Federazione Italiana Mathesis per le Scienze Matematiche pure e applicate. They both organize annual conferences and seminars for teacher education.
Researchers in didactics of mathematics are working in university structures, embedded in either mathematics or educational sciences departments. There are several PhD programs in various universities.
The INVALSI Institute (Istituto Nazionale per la Valutazione del Sistema Educativo di Istruzione e di Formazione) also plays a role in mathematics education research in Italy, providing data on student learning outcomes and educational inequalities and supporting research on teaching practices and curricular effectiveness.
The main journals in mathematics education published in Italy are as follows:
La matematica e la sua didattica, published by the University of Bologna, focuses on research in mathematics education, history, and epistemology. The journal is available in open access and accepts contributions in Italian, English, and Spanish.
Quaderni di Ricerca in Didattica, published by the GRIM (Research Group on Teaching Mathematics) at the University of Palermo, features advanced research on both mathematics and science education. The journal accepts contributions in Italian, English, French, German, and Spanish.
L'insegnamento della matematica e delle scienze integrate, a bimonthly journal, focuses on the teaching of mathematics and integrated sciences, addressing both educators and researchers.
In addition to these, Didattica della matematica. Dalla ricerca alle pratiche d’aula is an open access journal published by the Centro competenze didattica della matematica at the Department of Education and Learning, SUPSI (Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana). This journal is dedicated to bridging research and practice in mathematics education.
Teachers in Italy need a certificate at a Graduate or Master level. Kindergarten and Primary school teachers are generalists, while secondary teachers specialize in one subject or two in professional education. Initial teacher education programs vary depending on the level of school teaching. For primary school teachers, the required qualification is a five-year single-cycle master’s degree in Primary Education (Scienze della Formazione Primaria), which integrates pedagogical theory, subject knowledge, and extensive school internships. For secondary school teachers, a subject-specific master's degree is required, followed by completion of a national postgraduate program known as the Percorso di Formazione Iniziale e Tirocinio (initial teacher education and training pathway), which includes coursework and supervised teaching practice. Entry into secondary teaching is regulated by national examinations (concorsi), which assess both subject mastery and teaching competence. These pathways aim to combine disciplinary expertise with pedagogical and didactic preparation, ensuring new teachers are ready to meet the demands of the classroom.
In-service mathematics teacher education includes a range of professional development opportunities aimed at supporting teachers’ continuous learning. These activities are often promoted by universities, research associations such as AIRDM, and the Ministry of Education. They can include workshops, blended or online courses, collaborative research projects, and participation in national conferences or seminars. A key focus is on improving teaching practices through reflection, discussion of classroom experiences, and engagement with current research in mathematics education.
Information can be found about:
Organization of the school system: https://www.mim.gov.it/web/guest/sistema-educativo-di-istruzione-e-formazione (Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito – Structure and levels of the Italian education system).
School programs: https://www.mim.gov.it/web/guest/percorsi-di-studio-e-formazione (MIUR – Programs and curriculum guidelines for all school levels).