Since 1986 the International Baccalaureate Diploma, "recognized by the IB headquarters in Geneva (IB)", is also recognized in Italy pursuant to Law 738/1986 as a valid qualification in Italy. The 1986 law states that:
- diplomas recognized by the IB headquarters in Geneva "following exams taken in UWC or other Italian or foreign schools" will be recognized in Italy, under certain conditions, in the same way as upper secondary school qualifications;
- if the Italian language is not present in the candidate's CV, it is up to the individual universities to decide on a possible test to verify knowledge of the Italian language.
Furthermore:
- only the final diploma is recognised;
- this recognition is valid only for the schools indicated in a specific register kept by the Ministry of Education and Merit (the "MIM Register");
- since the only Italian law concerning the IB refers only to the Diploma Programme, the other IB programs (PYP, MYP, CP) can be present in Italy in schools that adopt non-Italian curricula ("foreign schools"), and in some Italian primary schools, where it is possible, although not easy, to make the IB system coexist with the requirements of Italian law.
Schools included in the "MIM register" do not need to obtain a Declaration of Value for their students' results. For these schools, the diploma is recognized in Italy following the affixing of an "Apostille" by the Italian consulate general in Geneva (according to the 1957 international convention), and is sent by the IB directly to the schools.
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