The Problem of Location Without Infrastructure

Category I European Schools deliver a full curriculum culminating in the European Baccalaureate and are considered the gold standard for EU staff children. However, when agencies are located in cities without such schools, staff are implicitly expected to find alternatives. In Turin, ETF staff face a patchwork of international, bilingual, or Italian national schools—none fully aligned with the European School curriculum or ethos. This situation imposes both financial and practical burdens on families.

Current measures

To mitigate this gap, ETF introduced a social measure in 2019 that reimburses a portion of school fees for the children of staff, applicable to Temporary and Contract Agents with contracts of at least one year. The measure covers children attending “Schools that provide an international/foreign curriculum that do not lead to an Italian official certificate/diploma” [1] as “in the area of the seat of the ETF there is no European School”. ETF reimburses 50% of the residual costs (registration plus tuition exceeding the normal education allowance). Transport, meals, uniforms, books, and school trips are excluded. Reimbursements are subject to budget availability; partial payments may be made and adjusted later.

As mentioned above, the measure currently applies only to schools that “do not lead to an Italian official certificate/diploma”, which means some high-quality bilingual or hybrid schools remain ineligible even when their curriculum closely resembles the European Baccalaureate.  This limitation has raised concerns among staff who seek more inclusive access to diverse educational options that align with European standards.

Given the presence of multiple international organisations and an EU agency focused on education and training, the current situation presents an opportunity to broaden access to diverse, high-quality educational options in a more inclusive and equitable manner.

 

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_{[1] ETF/19/DEC/005 “Measure of social nature on school fees for dependent children of ETF staff”}

The Case of Florence

Florence, like Turin, has a limited number of international schools. Notable examples include the International School of Florence (ISF) and the Canadian School of Florence, both of which offer the International Baccalaureate, as well as the Lycée Français Victor Hugo, which provides access to the French Baccalaureate. Similar to the situation in Turin, Parma, and Rome, there are no Category I European Schools in Florence. Financial support to offset the high tuition fees of these international schools is granted on a case-by-case basis, and only for expatriate staff.

The Varese Paradox: A School Too Far

While a Category I European School is located in Varese, approximately 130 km from Turin, the considerable distance and commuting time render this option impractical for ETF staff—particularly those with young children. As a result, despite its formal availability, the Varese school does not offer a viable solution to the schooling needs of ETF families based in Turin.

School Options in Turin

Liceo Vittoria offers a four-year programme that includes English-based IGCSEs and A Levels, closely aligning with the European Baccalaureate model. Similarly, the Lycée Français International Jean Giono provides a complete French curriculum and is a strong option, particularly for staff from francophone backgrounds. However, this school may also fall outside the scope of institutions currently eligible for top-up reimbursement under ETF’s existing rules.

Concrete Reform Proposals

To support equitable educational provision for children of EU agencies staff, the institutions could consider:

• Permit a top-up support for any academically rigorous programme aligned with European School “principles”, irrespective of the diploma issuing body.
• Prioritise support for lower-grade staff (Contract Agents, AST up to AST5), to ensure equal access for Italian and non-Italian staff alike.
• Actively pursue accreditation of local schools—such as Liceo Vittoria or Lycée Jean Giono—to European School status, inspired by Parma’s example.

European Schools Are for All Staff

European Schools exist to uphold the educational rights of all EU staff families, reflecting the Union’s commitment to linguistic diversity and mobility. Education is not a perk—it is a core element of staff welfare and effectiveness. When agencies operate in cities without European Schools, the EU bears responsibility to find appropriate solutions.

Ultimately, and particularly in relation to the attractiveness of Italian duty stations, a coordinated solution at the European Commission level would be preferable—one that proactively ensures equitable access to high-quality, European-style education for all staff families, rather than leaving each agency to devise its own individual measures.

Access to such education should be seen as a fundamental right, and addressing this need collectively is essential to maintaining a fair, inclusive, and effective European civil service.