Academic advising is a fundamental process for guiding students toward making informed choices for their educational and professional future. It is not an isolated action, but a systematic path involving the entire educational system, with the teacher at the center of a complex network. In a continuously evolving global context, which intertwines the needs of the European market with the specifics of Mediterranean culture, the teacher’s role in advising takes on strategic importance. The goal is twofold: to nurture the talents and potential of each student and, at the same time, to combat the school dropout phenomenon, which still shows worrying figures in Italy.

Recent reforms, particularly those under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), have redesigned the Italian guidance system, introducing new roles and tools. Starting from the 2023/2024 school year, 30 annual hours of guidance have been introduced in secondary schools, along with the key figures of the teacher tutor and the guidance teacher. These professionals are tasked with guiding students and their families, not just in the transition between educational cycles, but in a true life project, integrating tradition and innovation into a personalized path.

The Regulatory Framework and PNRR Guidelines

The guidance system in Italy has undergone a profound revision thanks to the investments and reforms of the PNRR. Ministerial Decree No. 328 of December 22, 2022, approved the Guidelines for Guidance, with the aim of creating a structured and permanent system. This reform aims to strengthen the connection between the first and second cycles of education, reduce school dropout rates, and facilitate the transition to tertiary education and the world of work. The school dropout rate in Italy, although declining, still stands at levels above the European average, with a rate of 9.8% in 2024, highlighting a strong need for intervention.

The guidelines introduce curricular guidance modules of at least 30 hours per year for lower and upper secondary schools. These hours are not intended as a standalone subject but as an activity integrated into teaching, managed flexibly by individual educational institutions. A central element of this innovation is the E-Portfolio, a digital portfolio that documents each student’s educational path and acquired skills, promoting self-assessment and critical reflection on their own learning. This tool, along with the teacher tutor, accompanies the student in creating their “masterpiece,” a personal product that represents the skills they have developed.

The Strategic Role of the Teacher Tutor and the Guidance Teacher

The reform has institutionalized two new professional roles within the teaching staff: the teacher tutor and the guidance teacher, active since the 2023/2024 school year. Although distinct, these roles work in synergy to support students. The teacher tutor is responsible for supporting a group of students in a personalized way, helping them develop awareness of their potential and complete the E-Portfolio. They act as an “advisor” for families, facilitating a constant dialogue between the school, the student, and the family context. This is not a hierarchically superior figure, but a coordinator who designs individualized paths.

The guidance teacher, on the other hand, has a more systemic function. Their task is to manage and integrate data on educational offerings and labor market demands, at both national and local levels. This professional provides students, families, and teacher tutors with the necessary information to make informed choices, creating a bridge between the world of school and professional opportunities. To fill these roles, teachers must follow specific training courses, such as those organized by INDIRE, to acquire the necessary skills to guide students effectively.

Practical Strategies for Effective Guidance

Effective guidance is not limited to sporadic events but is achieved through guidance-oriented teaching integrated into daily activities. This methodology transforms every subject into an opportunity to discover aptitudes and interests. Practical strategies include project-based learning, workshops, and activities that simulate real-world contexts. For example, a science project can become an opportunity to explore professions in the STEM field, a sector where Europe aims to bridge the skills gap. The use of narratives, storytelling, and testimonials from external professionals can make guidance more vivid and personal, helping students to concretely envision their future.

Another fundamental strategy is the development of soft skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. These abilities, increasingly in demand by the labor market, can be developed through group work, debates, and peer-tutoring activities. The teacher tutor plays a key role in the effective management of the class group to promote these skills. Guidance thus becomes a process of “self-guidance,” in which the student learns to know themselves, to read the context, and to design their own path with autonomy and responsibility.

Tradition and Innovation in the Mediterranean and European Context

Academic advising in Italy is situated in a continuous dialogue between the valorization of Mediterranean cultural tradition and the innovative drives of the European labor market. The Mediterranean culture, with its strong connection to the local area and the centrality of human and family relationships, offers fertile ground for personalized guidance. The collaboration between school and family, a pillar of the new guidelines, finds a solid foundation in this context. However, it is crucial to overcome cultural stereotypes that can still influence educational choices, especially regarding the gender gap in STEM disciplines.

At the same time, Italy must respond to European directives that promote mobility and employability in an increasingly integrated and competitive labor market. Programs like Erasmus+ and lifelong learning initiatives are essential tools for broadening students’ horizons. The guidance teacher is also tasked with guiding students toward innovative paths like the ITS Academies, which represent a concrete response to the market’s demand for technical and professional skills. The balance between valuing local roots and projecting toward a European future is the true challenge for successful guidance.

Tools and Resources for the Guidance Teacher

To perform their role effectively, the guidance teacher and the teacher tutor have a range of tools and resources at their disposal. The Unified Platform (Piattaforma Unica), established by the Ministry of Education and Merit, is the main tool. It gathers the student’s E-Portfolio, information on study paths, labor market data, and good guidance practices into a single digital environment. Through this platform, the teacher can access updated data to best advise students and families and monitor progress in the guidance path.

In addition to institutional tools, there are numerous external resources. Collaboration with universities, ITS Academies, employment centers, trade associations, and local businesses is fundamental. Organizing “training fairs,” active guidance days, and pathways for soft skills and guidance (PCTO) allows students to come into direct contact with the world of work and higher education. The guidance teacher can use a complete toolkit to build a solid network in support of guidance, ensuring a rich and diverse range of information.

Conclusions

Academic advising, renewed by the recent PNRR reforms, is configured as a strategic, and no longer secondary, function of the Italian educational system. The shift from an episodic concept to a systematic and curricular approach, centered on guidance-oriented teaching, marks a cultural turning point. The figures of the teacher tutor and the guidance teacher are the pillars of this new paradigm, called upon to guide students on a journey of self-discovery and future planning. Their role is crucial for translating ministerial directives into effective, personalized, and inclusive educational practices.

The challenge lies in integrating the potential of digital tools, such as the Unified Platform and the E-Portfolio, with an authentic educational relationship based on dialogue and listening. In a complex world, guidance cannot provide definitive answers but must equip students with the skills to “learn how to choose.” In this process, the teacher is not just a transmitter of knowledge, but a true architect of possible futures, capable of connecting cultural tradition with the opportunities of the global market, ensuring that every student can find their own path to personal and professional fulfillment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of the teacher tutor according to the new guidelines?

The teacher tutor, introduced by the PNRR reforms, is tasked with supporting a group of students in a personalized way. Their main activities include helping each student develop their E-Portfolio, a digital document that collects their educational path and skills. Additionally, they act as a point of contact for students and as an “advisor” for families during decision-making moments, facilitating constant and constructive dialogue.

What are the 30 hours of guidance required by the reform?

The guidance reform, part of the PNRR, has introduced a requirement to carry out at least 30 hours of guidance activities per year in lower and upper secondary schools, starting from the 2023/2024 school year. These hours do not constitute a new subject but are curricular (or extracurricular in the first cycle) modules to be flexibly integrated into regular teaching, with the aim of developing students’ self-guidance skills.

What is the difference between a teacher tutor and a guidance teacher?

Although both figures are central to the reform, their roles are distinct and complementary. The teacher tutor focuses on providing personalized support to a small group of students, helping them on their growth path and with the completion of the E-Portfolio. The guidance teacher, on the other hand, has a more systemic role: they are responsible for collecting and making available data and information on educational offerings and the labor market at local and national levels, supporting the entire school community.

What is the E-Portfolio and what is it for?

The E-Portfolio is a personal digital portfolio that accompanies the student throughout their school journey. It is a tool introduced by the new guidance guidelines to document educational experiences, acquired skills, and the student’s personal reflections. Supported by the teacher tutor, the E-Portfolio helps the student become aware of their strengths and talents, becoming a key tool for self-assessment and future planning.

How does guidance combat school dropout?

Guidance is a strategic tool to combat school dropout because it helps students make more informed and motivated choices that are aligned with their aspirations and talents. An effective guidance path, which nurtures individual potential and shows future opportunities, can increase motivation to study and reduce the sense of being lost that often leads to dropping out. The roles of the teacher tutor and guidance teacher were introduced precisely to provide personalized support and prevent educational failure.

Frequently Asked Questions