Catholic Religious Education in Italian Schools: How to Opt Out in Rome
Whether you're Muslim, Orthodox, Jewish, atheist, or simply prefer to choose — Catholic religious ed is optional in Italian public schools. Here's how to opt your child out, what the four alternatives are, and what the law actually says.
In a nutshell
Every Italian state school offers one hour per week of Insegnamento della Religione Cattolica (IRC — Catholic religious education). It is not compulsory: you are completely free to choose whether your child attends or not. That right applies to every family, whatever their faith or reason for choosing — and you don't have to explain yourself to anyone.
At a glance
| Cost | Free |
| Timeline | Choice made at enrolment (January–February); renewed each academic year |
| Where in Rome | MIM online enrolment portal or the school's administrative office |
| Documents | None — you simply tick a box on the enrolment form |
What the law says
IRC exists in state schools under the Villa Madama Agreement of 1984, enacted into Italian law as Legge 121/1985. Article 9 obliges the State to offer Catholic religious education while at the same time guaranteeing "everyone the right to choose whether or not to attend that teaching."
The Italian Constitutional Court clarified the framework with two landmark rulings: Sentenza 203/1989 established that a pupil who opts out is in a state of "non-obligation" — they cannot be forced to attend any alternative activity against their will. Sentenza 13/1991 confirmed full equality of dignity between pupils who choose IRC and those who don't.
The practical upshot: this is not an exemption that someone grants you. It is a free, legally protected choice that requires no permission from the head teacher.
Who can opt out
Any family, without exception: Muslim, Orthodox, Evangelical, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic, Catholic families who simply prefer not to attend, or families that don't identify with any label. You don't need to declare your religion or provide any justification.
For nursery school, primary school, and lower secondary school (scuola media), both parents must sign (or both guardians in shared-custody situations). For upper secondary school (liceo/istituto), students aged 14 and over sign directly on their own behalf.
The four alternatives
When you indicate "does not attend IRC," you must also choose how your child will spend that hour:
Option A — Structured alternative activities. A school teacher runs a lesson on topics such as civic education, human rights, history of religions, or ethics. This is the most educationally structured option. If students request it, the school is legally required to organise it.
Option B — Supervised self-study. The child works independently — homework, reading, research — under a teacher's supervision. Very common in primary and lower secondary school.
Option C — Unsupervised self-study. Upper secondary only: the student uses a study room or library without a supervisor.
Option D — Late arrival or early departure. This only works if the IRC hour is the very first or very last period of the school day. If it falls in the middle of the morning, this option is not available — a minor cannot wait outside the school unaccompanied during school hours.
How to make the choice in Rome
Online enrolment (primary, lower secondary, upper secondary). The portal iscrizioni.istruzione.it — accessed with SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) or CIE (Italian electronic ID card) — includes a dedicated IRC section. You tick "Yes, attends" or "No, does not attend" and select your preferred alternative (A, B, C, or D).
Paper enrolment (nursery school and certain special cases). Go to the school's administrative office and fill in the paper enrolment form, which contains the same IRC section. If you have trouble with SPID, the office staff can help you or provide a paper form for any school level.
Child arriving mid-year. Late enrolment is handled directly at the school office. The IRC choice is communicated at the same time, on a paper form.
In many schools, a second form is handed out in September (after enrolment) to confirm the chosen alternative (A, B, C, or D). The reference template is attached to CM MIUR 110/2011 and is available from the school office or on the school's website.
Mistakes to avoid
- Thinking you need the head teacher's permission. You don't. Just indicate your preference at enrolment. The school cannot refuse or ask for an explanation.
- Not selecting an alternative and leaving the child without an arrangement. If you say "does not attend" but don't choose A, B, C, or D, the school may struggle to manage that hour. Always indicate an option.
- Assuming the choice is permanent. It applies for one academic year. You can change it every year at enrolment or confirmation time. It generally cannot be changed mid-year.
Special cases
Discrimination based on the choice. If the school treats your child differently because they don't attend IRC — for example through lower conduct marks or situations of isolation — this is prohibited discrimination. You can report it to the head teacher, to the Ufficio Scolastico Regionale Lazio (Regional School Authority for Lazio), and to UNAR (Italy's national anti-discrimination office).
Only one child in the class opts out. The school cannot leave them alone with the IRC teacher. It must guarantee at least Option B (supervised self-study), even in this case.
Non-Catholic religious holidays. Absences for holidays such as Eid, Orthodox Easter, Pesach, or Diwali can be justified with a written note from the family. These are not official school-closure days, but established practice accepts them as excused absences.
School meals and religious dietary requirements. For children who follow a pork-free, kosher, or beef-free diet for religious reasons, the request must be submitted to the Comune (city hall / municipality) of Rome or to the relevant Municipio (district office) via Roma Capitale — Servizi Scolastici.
Official sources
- MIM — Online enrolment
- MIM — Catholic religious education
- Online Enrolment Portal
- Legge 121/1985 — Villa Madama Agreement
- Regional School Authority — Lazio
- Portale Integrazione Migranti
- UNAR — Anti-Discrimination Office
- Roma Capitale — Schools
Legal references: Legge 25/03/1985 n. 121 art. 9; DPR 175/2012; CM MIUR 316/1987; CM MIUR 110/2011; Costituzione artt. 7, 8, 19; Sentenze Corte Costituzionale 203/1989, 13/1991, 290/1992.