The short version
- A new decree prohibits full-face veils in schools and limits classes to thirty percent students with limited Italian proficiency.
- Officials frame the measures as necessary for integration and gender equality, while opposition parties label them as populist propaganda.
- The legislation requires parliamentary ratification within sixty days and builds upon informal guidelines established over a decade ago.
The Italian government has formally approved a decree that bans the wearing of burqas and niqabs in educational settings while simultaneously imposing a cap on the proportion of students with limited Italian language skills in any single classroom. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the measures on Sunday, characterizing them as practical instruments designed to foster social cohesion rather than division. The policy targets specific religious garments that obscure the face, distinguishing them from hijabs, which leave facial features visible and remain permitted under the new rules.
Under the proposed legislation, schools will be required to ensure that no more than thirty percent of pupils in primary, middle, or high school classes lack Italian citizenship or possess insufficient command of the national language. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara emphasized that this threshold is intended to address linguistic barriers rather than discriminate based on nationality. He argued that concentrating students who struggle with the language creates isolated environments, which he described as ghettoized classrooms that hinder effective learning and social integration.
The implementation details vary across different educational levels. In primary schools, the cap applies to non-citizens who were not born in Italy or have not completed at least two years of nursery education within the national system. For secondary education, the restriction targets students without citizenship who have not successfully finished three years of schooling in Italy. Local administrative offices will be tasked with redistributing these students among nearby institutions to maintain balance. If redistribution proves impossible due to logistical constraints, schools may apply for exemptions provided they offer additional Italian language instruction.
Beyond classroom composition, the decree introduces measures aimed at parental engagement. Schools are now obligated to report cases to social services if persistent language barriers among parents significantly impede a child’s integration into society. The government plans to supplement these reports with free Italian language courses for affected families. This approach seeks to address the root causes of linguistic isolation by involving guardians in the educational process, rather than focusing solely on student performance within the school environment.
Political reactions to the decree have been sharply divided. Opposition leaders accuse the Meloni administration of engaging in political theater designed to appeal to the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party, led by retired general Roberto Vannacci. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, dismissed the plan as unimplementable propaganda that prioritizes electoral strategy over the well-being of schoolchildren. Anna Ascani, a deputy and chamber vice-president, echoed these sentiments, suggesting the government is sacrificing educational quality for political gain.
Government officials have rejected these accusations. Valditara, speaking from New York, stated that his ministry is not chasing Vannacci’s agenda but rather addressing genuine integration challenges. He framed the ban on full-face veils as a matter of gender equality, asserting that young women should not be compelled to hide their faces in the name of tradition. Meloni reinforced this view by stating that no one should decide for a young woman that she must conceal herself, positioning the policy as a defense of individual autonomy and visibility.
The new decree transforms existing informal guidelines into binding law. A ministerial notice issued in 2010 under former Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini already suggested a thirty percent limit on non-citizen pupils as a standard practice. The current legislation codifies this recommendation, giving it legal force and immediate effect. However, because the measure is introduced as a decree law, it must be ratified by parliament within sixty days to remain in force, introducing a period of legislative scrutiny and potential debate.
The timing of the announcement has intensified speculation about its political motivations. With a general election scheduled for next year, critics argue that the government is attempting to consolidate support from the right flank of the coalition. Matteo Salvini of the League party, who recently proposed separate measures targeting what he termed political Islam, criticized Vannacci for consistently opposing the government while agreeing with the substance of the new school policies. The interplay between these political figures suggests a complex landscape where educational policy intersects with broader electoral strategies.
Data from the research institution Fondazione ISMU indicates that non-Italian citizens currently comprise approximately eleven point six percent of pupils in Italian schools. While this figure is well below the proposed thirty percent cap, the new rules aim to prevent localized concentrations of students with limited language skills. The government maintains that proactive management of classroom demographics is essential for ensuring equitable educational outcomes and promoting successful integration into Italian society.
As the decree moves toward parliamentary ratification, the focus will shift to how local authorities implement these requirements. Schools will need to assess student populations and adjust enrollments accordingly, potentially requiring significant administrative coordination. The success of the policy will depend on whether it achieves its stated goal of improving language acquisition and social integration without creating new forms of exclusion or administrative burden for educational institutions.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Italy ministers agree to ban burqa and niqab in school and cap foreigners in class
