In Brief (TL;DR)
The Tutor Teacher and the Guidance Counselor are the new key figures introduced in Italian schools to combat early school leaving and guide students in their educational and professional paths.
From regulations to compensation, this guide provides a detailed analysis of the duties, training, and tools of these new school professionals.
We will delve into every aspect of these new professional roles: from requirements to training, from duties to compensation, and their impact on students and the school system.
The devil is in the details. 👇 Keep reading to discover the critical steps and practical tips to avoid mistakes.
The Italian school system is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the need to respond more effectively to the challenges of the future. In this scenario, the introduction of the Tutor Teacher and the Guidance Counselor represents one of the most significant innovations. Created as part of the reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), these two professional roles aim to personalize learning and guide students toward informed choices, combating the phenomenon of early school leaving. This is a change that combines the Mediterranean cultural tradition, based on human relationships and dialogue, with innovative tools and a systemic, European-inspired approach.
These figures, active since the 2023/2024 school year, were established to support students and their families, with the goal of enhancing each individual’s talents and facilitating the connection between the world of education and the world of work. The intent is to create a bridge between individual aspirations and concrete opportunities, making school a true launchpad for every young person’s life project. This initiative is part of a broader framework that views guidance as a strategic lever for the country’s social and cultural growth.
The Regulatory Context: The PNRR Guidelines
The establishment of the Tutor Teacher and the Guidance Counselor is a direct consequence of the reform of the guidance system, as outlined in Mission 4 of the PNRR. The regulatory framework is Ministerial Decree No. 328 of December 22, 2022, which approved the new “Guidelines for Guidance.” This document marks a paradigm shift, moving guidance from a sporadic activity to a structural and continuous process, integrated into every student’s curriculum starting from secondary school.
The reform’s main objective is twofold. On one hand, it aims to reduce school dropout rates, a phenomenon in Italy that remains above the European average. On the other hand, it seeks to improve the connection between the course of study and subsequent opportunities, whether academic or professional. To achieve these goals, the Ministry has allocated significant funds, starting with 150 million euros for the year 2023, intended to finance the activities of approximately 40,000 tutor teachers and one guidance counselor for every upper secondary school.
Who is the Tutor Teacher? Role and Duties
The Tutor Teacher is an essential point of reference for the student and their family. Their main task is to follow a small group of students (typically between 30 and 50) on a personalized growth path. They act as a mentor, helping each young person become aware of their potential, recognize their talents, and overcome any difficulties, not just academic but also motivational. This approach aims to make the student an active protagonist in their own educational journey.
The specific duties of the Tutor Teacher include constant dialogue with students, support in completing the personal E-Portfolio, and collaboration with the class council to personalize teaching. One of their most delicate functions is to act as an “advisor” for families at crucial moments of educational or professional choices. Imagine the tutor as a personal education coach: they don’t just teach a subject, but help the student discover and train their strengths, define clear goals, and build a solid life project.
Who is the Guidance Counselor? Functions and Objectives
While the Tutor focuses on the individual student, the Guidance Counselor has a broader, school-level perspective. Their role is to act as a “bridge” between students and the opportunities offered by the world of tertiary education and work. They are an expert on post-high school educational paths, such as universities and Higher Technical Institutes (ITS), and on the dynamics of the local and national job market. For this reason, they collect and organize data and information to make it available to students, families, and tutor teachers.
Their activities include designing and coordinating curricular guidance modules (a minimum of 30 hours over the three-year period), organizing meetings with professionals and representatives from the academic world, and managing data on the Unica platform. If the Tutor is the personal coach, the Guidance Counselor can be seen as a cartographer of the future: they provide the maps, tools, and information necessary to navigate the complex territory of post-high school choices, ensuring that every student can chart their own course with awareness.
Winning Synergies: How Tutors and Counselors Collaborate
The effectiveness of the reform lies in the close collaboration between the Tutor Teacher and the Guidance Counselor. Although they have distinct duties, these two figures cannot operate in isolation; on the contrary, their strength lies in synergy. The Ministry has clarified that the two roles cannot be held by the same person, precisely to ensure effective teamwork and comprehensive support for students. Their interaction is fundamental to creating a guidance path that is both personalized and well-informed about external opportunities.
The process is circular: the Tutor, through individual dialogue, gathers valuable information about each student’s inclinations, passions, and skills. This data is then shared with the Counselor, who uses it to provide targeted recommendations on the most suitable study or career paths. In this way, the Counselor’s systemic information is applied to the individual reality of each student through the Tutor’s mediation. This winning synergy ensures that no choice is left to chance but is the result of careful reflection that combines self-knowledge with knowledge of the world.
Requirements and Training: How to Become a Tutor Teacher and Guidance Counselor
To fill these strategic roles, teachers must meet specific requirements and complete a dedicated training program. Applications are on a voluntary basis and are open to tenured teachers with at least five years of service. Preferential criteria for selection, carried out by the school principal, include previous experience in similar roles, such as instrumental functions for guidance, combating early school leaving, or managing PCTO (Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation). A commitment to hold the position for at least a three-year period is also required to ensure continuity.
The training, which is essential for appointment, is managed by INDIRE and consists of a 20-hour online course. This program, delivered asynchronously via the “Scuola Futura” platform, is divided into six modules covering topics from the meaning of guidance to the analysis of future professional scenarios, and the use of digital tools. The goal of this targeted training is to provide teachers with the necessary skills to guide students in a constantly evolving world, also developing soft skills like active listening and effective communication.
The Tools of the Trade: The Unica Platform and the E-Portfolio
The innovation introduced by these new figures is supported by powerful digital tools, first and foremost the “Unica” Single Platform. Conceived by the Ministry of Education and Merit, this platform serves as a digital ecosystem for guidance, integrating services and information for students, families, and teachers. Within it, the cornerstone tool for the Tutor Teacher’s work is the E-Portfolio, a sort of digital “logbook” that accompanies the student throughout their journey.
The E-Portfolio is structured in several sections. It includes the student’s academic path, the development of certified skills, the student’s personal reflections, and a section dedicated to the “masterpiece”—a product or experience that the student considers particularly significant for their growth. The Tutor is responsible for guiding the student in completing this tool, helping them reflect on their journey in a self-evaluative and guidance-oriented way. The Unica Platform, with the E-Portfolio, thus becomes the place where the tradition of educational dialogue meets digital innovation.
Financial Aspects: Compensation for Tutor Teachers and Guidance Counselors
The commitment required of Tutor Teachers and Guidance Counselors is also recognized financially, through supplementary compensation financed by specific funds. For the 2024/2025 school year, the Ministry has allocated approximately 267 million euros. The remuneration is defined at a national level and varies based on the role. For the Guidance Counselor, a gross annual compensation of about 1,500 euros is planned.
For the Tutor Teacher, the compensation is structured with a fixed and a variable part. The fixed portion ranges from a minimum of 1,589.68 euros to a maximum of 2,725.16 euros gross. A variable part can be added to this, linked to the number of additional tutoring hours performed, especially to support students with greater vulnerabilities. The final compensation is determined during school-level contract negotiations, within the minimum and maximum limits set by the ministry. It is important to note that, compared to the previous year, the resources have been readjusted, as highlighted by various union sources. For more details, you can consult specific guides on the compensation for tutors and counselors.
The Impact on the School System and the European Market
The introduction of the Tutor Teacher and the Guidance Counselor is not just an internal reform, but a strategic move to align the Italian school system with European standards. In many EU countries, similar figures supporting guidance have long been established, proving their effectiveness in promoting the academic and professional success of young people. This reform addresses the need to equip students with transversal and guidance skills, which are essential for navigating an increasingly global and competitive job market.
Rooted in a Mediterranean culture that values personal relationships, the initiative combines tradition and innovation. Dialogue and personal guidance, typical of a maieutic approach, are structured and enhanced by digital tools and a clear organizational framework. The ultimate goal is to form more aware citizens and workers, capable of building their own future autonomously and responsibly. By reducing dropout rates and improving the match between the supply and demand for skills, Italy aims to strengthen its human capital, a decisive factor for economic and social growth in the European context.
Conclusions
The introduction of the Tutor Teacher and the Guidance Counselor marks a turning point for the Italian school system, a concrete investment in the future of new generations. These professional figures represent the will to place the student at the center of the educational system, not just as a recipient of knowledge, but as the protagonist of a journey of discovery and enhancement of their talents. The synergy between the Tutor’s personalized guidance and the Counselor’s systemic vision promises to make guidance a continuous, integrated, and truly effective process.
The challenge now is to make this reform fully operational and widespread, overcoming initial difficulties and consolidating a new culture of guidance in all schools. If implemented well, this innovation has the potential to significantly reduce early school leaving, facilitate transitions between school, university, and work, and help form more aware citizens prepared to face the complexities of the modern world. It is a decisive step towards a more inclusive, equitable school system in line with the best European practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
The tutor teacher is a figure introduced in Italian secondary schools starting from the 2023/2024 school year to support students in their personal and educational growth. Their main task is to help each student become aware of their potential, enhance their talents, and build their personal E-portfolio. Together with families, they assist them in making choices about their educational or professional path.
Although they work in close synergy, the two roles are distinct and, as a rule, cannot be held by the same person. The tutor teacher focuses on personalizing learning and helping the student understand their aptitudes. The guidance counselor, on the other hand, has a more strategic task: they use data on local needs to connect the student’s profile with study and work opportunities, facilitating informed choices.
To become a tutor teacher or guidance counselor, you must be a tenured teacher, preferably with at least five years of service. School principals initiate a selection process for volunteer teachers, who must complete a 20-hour online training course managed by INDIRE. Preference criteria include having previously performed similar tasks (such as being a guidance coordinator) and being available to hold the position for a three-year period.
The remuneration for a tutor teacher is a supplementary lump-sum payment, established through internal contract negotiations at each school. The amount varies within a range defined at the ministerial level. Indicatively, the gross annual compensation for a tutor teacher can range from a minimum of 2,850 euros to a maximum of 4,750 euros, depending on the school’s resources and organization.
Yes, the roles of the tutor teacher and the guidance counselor were structurally introduced in lower and upper secondary schools starting from the 2023/2024 school year. The Ministry of Education and Merit has allocated funds to compensate approximately 40,000 tutor teachers throughout Italy, distributed based on the number of students, and one guidance counselor for each institution, in order to combat early school leaving and support students’ future choices.
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