Key facts
- Italy's government approved a ban on the burqa and niqab in schools.
- A 30% cap will be imposed on pupils with limited Italian language skills in primary, middle, and high schools.
- The ban applies to the burqa and niqab, but not the hijab.
- Non-Italian citizens constitute 11.6% of pupils in Italy.
- Schools will report cases where language barriers hinder a child's integration to social services.
- The measure is a decree law requiring parliamentary ratification within 60 days.
The Italian government has approved a decree law banning the burqa and niqab in schools and setting a 30% cap on the number of pupils with limited Italian language skills in any single class. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated the measures are intended to promote integration, while Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara emphasized the linguistic nature of the cap and framed the veil ban as a gender equality issue.
The ban specifically targets the burqa, which covers the face and body, and the niqab, which covers the face while leaving the eyes visible, but will not affect the hijab, which leaves the face uncovered. The 30% limit aims to prevent the formation of 'ghetto classes' by distributing pupils with language barriers more evenly among schools. Where this is not feasible, additional Italian language instruction will be provided.
According to the research institution Fondazione ISMU, non-Italian citizens currently make up 11.6% of pupils in Italian schools. The decree also mandates that schools report to social services cases where persistent language barriers hinder a child's integration, with free Italian courses offered to parents. The measure, which takes immediate effect, must be ratified by parliament within 60 days.
Opposition parties have criticized the plan as propaganda and politically motivated, accusing the government of pandering to hard-right elements ahead of next year's general election. Valditara rejected these claims, stating the government was not chasing the policies of Roberto Vannacci, leader of the Futuro Nazionale party. Vannacci himself agreed with the measures but felt they should have been implemented sooner.