Adult education: the role and structure of the Provincial Centres

Adult education is managed by adult schools (CPIA), Provincial Centres for Adult Education. The adult schools (CPIA) are part of the education system's territorial service network and have the objective of carrying out both educational activities aimed at the adult population and Research, Experimentation and Development activities in the field of adult education. With regard to the latter, didactic research on the integration of information and communication technologies in educational processes takes on particular importance. The use of new technologies is strategic for configuring the adult schools (CPIA) as a territorial service network, as well as a benchmark public entity for the establishment of territorial networks for lifelong learning.
Within the perimeter of their competences, adult schools (CPIA) represent a stable, structured and widespread point of reference for coordinating and realising admission, orientation and accompaniment activities for the adult population. They are also the institutional point of reference for coordinating and implementing activities aimed at the adult population with the aim of raising education levels and consolidating key skills for lifelong learning.

What are they

Adult education is promoted by adult schools (CPIA), centres established with the decree of the President of the Republic 263 of 29 October 2012 and the subsequent Guidelines of 12 March 2015. They represent a type of autonomous educational institution with its own staff and a specific teaching and organisational structure.
The adult schools (CPIA) are divided into "territorial service networks" organised into three levels: Level A: administrative unit; Level B: Didactic unit; Level C: Training Unit.

Level A: administrative unit

From an administrative point of view, the adult schools (CPIA) have a central office and first-level delivery points, i.e. associated premises, where first-level courses and literacy and Italian language learning courses are carried out. Each Region is responsible for identifying the first level delivery points.

Level B: didactic unit

From an organisational/didactic point of view, the adult schools (CPIA) refer to secondary school institutions that provide second-level adult education courses.
The second-level supply points of the adult schools (CPIA) refer to secondary school institutions and their operational headquarters identified by the Regions.
As an administrative unit, the adult schools (CPIA) stipulate specific network agreements, according to article 7 of the Decree of the President of the Republic 275 of 1999, with these educational institutions with the aim of defining:
  • the criteria and methods for the joint organisational/didactic planning of second-level courses;
  • the establishment and functioning of the Commission to define the individual training agreement;
  • the implementation of specific system measures to facilitate the connection between first and second level education programmes, also using new technologies.

Level C: training unit

The adult schools (CPIA) can expand the educational offering through agreements with local authorities and other public and private entities, in particular training facilities accredited by the Regions. These initiatives are consistent with the aims of the adult schools (CPIA) and local needs and are also part of the activities that aim to enhance citizenship skills and therefore the employability of the population.

The adult education offering

Explore the services offered by the CPIA, Provincial Centres for Adult Education. Find out more about the three levels and the activities involved.
Read further details of the offering