The protests took place in more than 35 squares nationwide, including Rome’s Piazza del Popolo and Milan’s central Piazza Duomo.
Demonstrators in Rome wore dunce’s caps to indicate the impact of the closures on students’ education, while in Milan pupils’ messages and placards were propped against their school bags placed on the ground.
Numbers at each venue were limited due to coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.
Most Italian schools for all ages have been closed since March 15, with students resorting to remote learning from home.
Since Italy’s outbreak began 13 months ago, schools have closed and re-opened intermittently depending on age groups and local infection levels, but overall there has been less face-to-face schooling than in most other European countries.
The latest closures were the last straw for millions of parents forced to work from home or pay for child care.
The government says the closures are needed due to rising infection rates and the spread of new variants, particularly the UK strain, which has been found to be more contagious among younger age groups.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Friday vowed that schools would be the first thing to reopen when current COVID-19 restrictions are eased.
