These differences are measured by Eurydice data, the European Commission network that monitors education systems, updated to the 2024/2025 school year. Teachers’ working hours and unpaid hoursUnfortunately, there is a cliché that has always accompanied the debate on the salaries of Italian teachers, namely that they would work reduced hours and have access to long summer holidays. Looking at the numbers of the continental comparison, it is an increase that brings Italy closer to the European average, without however substantially changing its position in the ranking. Furthermore, 49% of novice teachers report that teaching was their first professional choice (lower than the OECD average: 58%). Moreover, just 23% of Italian teachers say they are satisfied with their salary, just over half the international average.