Italy bans burqas in schools and sets 30% cap on non-Italian speakers
Italy's cabinet has adopted a decree-law that bans burqas and niqabs in schools and introduces a 30% cap on non-Italian speakers in classrooms from next year. The measure takes immediate effect under Italy's decree-law system, but it still needs parliamentary ratification within 60 days. It comes as migration and integration remain central political issues ahead of the 2027 general election.
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Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the move after outlining the proposed changes at a gathering of the youth wing of her nationalist conservative Brothers of Italy party. Under the new rules, breaches can be fined up to 1,000 euros. President Sergio Mattarella has also signalled caution, saying this week that he was wary of barriers being placed on education.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said local school authorities will coordinate student placements to avoid concentrations of non-Italian-speaking pupils. He added that schools unable to comply would be eligible for exemptions, indicating that implementation may vary across the country. Meloni described the language and dress rules as common sense and said the government wanted a school system that integrates without giving up on rules.
The decision places education at the centre of a wider debate over identity, migration and integration in Italy. The country has long been a front-line destination for migration into Europe, and school policy has become part of the political argument over how to manage integration. The new decree also reflects the government's effort to present stricter cultural rules as part of a broader public policy agenda.
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The move has drawn criticism from opposition figures, who say the government is prioritising culture-war politics over the needs of schools and students. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, called it a shameful decree and said it was being used to hide the government's inability to address the real problems of the public school system. Critics also argue that the timing is linked to the growing appeal of the far-right National Future party, which has made schools a key battleground.
What happens next will depend on whether parliament approves the decree within the 60-day deadline and how school authorities apply the classroom cap in practice. It is also unclear how exemptions will work and whether the president's concerns will affect the final form of the law. The measure is likely to remain a live political issue as parties position themselves for the next election cycle.
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