ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government will introduce new measures to regulate foreign student numbers in classrooms and ban burqas and niqabs in schools.
Meloni announced the plans on Sunday at an event organised by the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party. She said the government will soon present the measures to the Cabinet.
Italy Plans New Rules for Foreign Students
The proposed measure would set a legal maximum for foreign students in each class. However, Meloni did not give a specific figure.
She also said parents of foreign students who face serious problems integrating into the Italian school system would have to take Italian language lessons.
Meloni linked the measures to her government’s wider focus on integration.
She said students who come to Italy should learn the language, understand Italian culture and respect the country’s rules.
Burqa and Niqab Ban Planned
The proposed rules would ban burqas and niqabs in Italian schools. Meloni specifically referred to full-face coverings.
The announcement does not include a ban on the hijab, according to AP reporting. The hijab covers the hair but does not cover the face.
Meloni said students should attend school with their faces uncovered. She also argued that cultural or religious traditions should not require young women to hide their faces.
The government measure would still need approval from parliament before it could become law.
Existing Rules on Foreign Students
Italy already has rules that limit the number of foreign students in some classrooms. The existing framework has generally used a 30% threshold, with exceptions based on students’ language skills and other factors.
The government has not yet explained how the new proposal would change the current system.
Recent figures cited in international reporting show that students who are not Italian citizens make up about 11.6% of school enrolments in Italy.
Migration and Integration Debate
Migration and integration remain major political issues in Italy. The country receives many migrants because of its location in the central Mediterranean.
Meloni’s announcement comes ahead of next year’s general election. Her government has continued to focus on migration, integration and national rules as key policy issues.
The proposed school measures are likely to add to the debate over migration, religious dress and integration in Italy.
