The Italian government has approved a new package of education reforms that prohibits full-face coverings in classrooms and establishes a numerical cap on students who struggle with the Italian language. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the legislation, characterizing the provisions as practical measures designed to foster inclusion rather than create division within society.
Under the newly approved decree, students will be barred from wearing garments such as the burqa and the niqab while attending school. The rule specifically targets coverings that conceal the face, while standard headscarfs like the hijab, which leave the facial features visible, remain permissible. Education officials framed this restriction as a commitment to gender equality and clear communication in educational environments.
The legislation also introduces a strict 30 percent threshold for students who lack proficiency in Italian or hold foreign citizenship, applying the limit during the entry years of primary, middle, and high schools. According to research from the Fondazione ISMU, non-Italian citizens currently account for approximately 11.6 percent of the nation's student body. Government officials stated that the cap aims to prevent the concentration of non-proficient speakers in specific classrooms and to ensure better linguistic integration.
To implement the cap, regional education offices will attempt to distribute students requiring language support more evenly across neighboring institutions. Exemptions will apply in areas where redistribution is impractical, accompanied by provisions for specialized language instruction. Additionally, schools will be required to notify social services if persistent language barriers among parents impede a child's educational progress, though free language courses will be made available to families.
Opposition parties immediately criticized the legislative package as politically motivated rhetoric. Center-left leaders argued that the policies are unfeasible and accused the administration of adopting platforms associated with hard-right factions ahead of upcoming national elections. Critics claimed the initiative uses students as instruments for political maneuvering rather than addressing substantive educational challenges.
Government ministers defended the decree against accusations of political pandering. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara rejected claims that the administration was reacting to external political pressures, emphasizing that the language limit relies strictly on linguistic capability rather than nationality. While the decree takes effect immediately, it requires formal ratification by the Italian parliament within a sixty-day window to remain permanent law.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
