The Italian government will launch the Teacher's Card from March 9, 2026, but its value will be reduced to 383 euros. The program will be extended to approximately 253,000 fixed-term and substitute teachers who were previously unable to use it. The Ministry of Education explains the budget cut as necessary to finance a wider group of beneficiaries, which has sparked mixed reactions among teachers and trade unions. The change fulfills the promise to extend benefits to temporary workers but also means less funding for all eligible individuals.
Lower card funding
The Teacher's Card, also known as the Education Card, will be activated in 2026 with an annual funding reduced to 383 euros. This represents a drop of 117 euros compared to the previous edition of the program, resulting from budget cuts and the expansion of the beneficiary pool.
Extension to temporary teachers
For the first time, approximately 253,000 teachers employed on fixed-term and substitute contracts will be able to benefit from the program. Until now, the card was available exclusively to teachers with permanent employment contracts, which had been the subject of years of protests by the community.
Activation date and rules
The card will be made available to teachers from March 9, 2026. Funds can be used for purchasing books, participating in cultural events, professional development courses, and buying technical equipment supporting teaching, in accordance with the program's regulations.
The Italian government has announced the launch of the Teacher's Card (Carta del Docente) from March 9, 2026. A key change is the reduction of the annual funding from around 500 euros to 383 euros, meaning a cut of 117 euros per person. The Ministry of Education explains that the budget cut was necessary to finance the extension of the program to a new group of beneficiaries. For the first time, fixed-term and substitute teachers, estimated at around 253,000 people, will be able to use the card. Until now, the program was available exclusively to teachers with permanent contracts, which was a source of tension in the education sector. Extending access fulfills the demand of temporary teachers who have been calling for equal benefits for years.The Teacher's Card is a government program introduced in Italy in 2015, aimed at supporting the professional development and upskilling of teachers by co-financing specific expenses. Initially, it covered only part of the staff, and its expansion has been the subject of union negotiations. Reactions to the changes are divided. Some teachers and trade unions view the reduction in the amount as a "ruthless cut" and a weakening of support for the profession. Others emphasize the positive aspect of including a broad group of temporary workers in the benefits system, which improves equality in access to development funds. Italian media point out that the government had to find a compromise between covering more people and limited public funds. The decision comes in the context of discussions about improving working conditions in the education sector and the long-term precarious employment of teachers. The Teacher's Card functions as an electronic wallet, from which funds can be spent on specific categories such as books, courses, electronic equipment, or tickets to theaters and museums. Detailed rules for using the card are to be announced by the Ministry of Education before the launch date. Newly eligible temporary teachers will receive instructions on activating their accounts and using the funds. Despite the lower amount, extending the program to hundreds of thousands of people means a significant transfer of public funds to the education and culture sectors.