Italy approves burqa, niqab ban in schools, introduces 30% cap on pupils with limited Italian

The Italian government has approved a ban on the wearing of burqa and niqab in schools, alongside a new 30 per cent cap on pupils with limited knowledge of the Italian language in certain classes.

The measures, approved by the Council of Ministers, will apply to the first year of primary, middle and high school. The government said the aim is to promote integration and prevent the creation of what Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara described as “ghetto classes.” Read Here. 

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as “common-sense tools” that would help integration rather than divide communities.

“You must go to school with your face uncovered,” Meloni said, adding that no one should decide that a young woman must hide her face in the name of tradition.

The ban applies specifically to the burqa and niqab, while the hijab, which leaves the face visible, will not be affected.

The government also clarified that the 30 per cent limit is based on language ability rather than citizenship. Local education authorities will be asked to distribute pupils with limited Italian skills more evenly among nearby schools.

Where that is not possible, exemptions may be granted and schools will provide additional Italian-language instruction.

The measure will also require schools to report cases to social services where persistent language barriers among parents or guardians are considered to be preventing a child’s integration. Free Italian-language courses will also be offered to parents.

According to research institution Fondazione ISMU, non-Italian citizens account for 11.6 per cent of pupils in Italy’s schools.

The new measure is a decree law, meaning it can take effect immediately but must be approved by parliament within 60 days to remain in force.

The government’s decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who accuse Meloni’s administration of pursuing the measures for political reasons ahead of next year’s general election.

The centre-left Democratic Party leader, Elly Schlein, described the plan as propaganda and questioned its implementation.

Valditara rejected the criticism, saying the government was not seeking to compete with hard-right politician Roberto Vannacci, whose Futuro Nazionale party has supported the measures.

Italy already had a 2010 ministerial guideline recommending a 30 per cent limit on pupils without Italian citizenship in classes, but the new decree places the limit into law with a greater focus on Italian-language proficiency.