Italy bans face-covering Islamic veils in schools and caps non-Italian-speaking students at 30% per class
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2 days · 3 summary articles
Italy bans face-covering Islamic veils in schools and caps non-Italian-speaking students at 30% per class
Italy bans full-face veils in schools and caps non-Italian-speaking students at 30% per class
ContinuationItaly's Meloni proposes school quotas for foreign-born students amid migration push
Italy’s conservative government on Thursday approved a decree banning face-covering Islamic veils, including burqas and niqabs, in schools and capping the number of non-Italian-speaking students per classroom at 30%.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the measures “tools of common sense that do not divide,” arguing they would prevent “ghetto classes” and ensure equal opportunities for all students. The decree takes effect immediately but requires parliamentary approval within 60 days, a step Meloni’s coalition is expected to secure given its legislative majority.
The classroom cap applies to foreign students with limited Italian proficiency: in primary schools, it targets non-citizens not born in Italy or who did not attend at least two years of preschool; in secondary schools, it covers non-citizens with fewer than three years in Italy’s school system. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the rule would affect about 1,000 classrooms, or 0.3% of the national total, though official data shows 7.6% of classes currently exceed the 30% threshold for foreign pupils.
Meloni framed the burqa ban as “a matter of security,” stating that face coverings deny women and girls “fundamental rights and the very integration that is so often loudly championed.” Hijabs, which do not cover the face, remain permitted. Critics, including opposition leader Elly Schlein, condemned the measures as “a new witch hunt at the expense of children,” while Save the Children warned the caps risked creating “first-class” and “second-class” students by forcing some to transfer schools.
Parents of students struggling with integration may be required to attend free Italian language courses, with fines of up to €1,000 for non-compliance. Valditara emphasized that inadequate language skills “hinders educational progress” and that parental involvement is critical for academic success .
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