ROME: Italy’s Council of Ministers has approved a decree banning the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools and introducing a 30 per cent limit on students in classes who do not have an adequate command of the Italian language. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the measures following the cabinet meeting, saying the new rules were aimed at supporting integration and improving equal educational opportunities. The decree also provides additional measures to help students learn Italian, including free language courses. Under the new rules, students who lack sufficient Italian-language skills will be limited to 30 per cent of pupils in relevant classes. The measure applies particularly to newly arriving students with limited knowledge of Italian, while different criteria apply at primary and secondary school levels. The government has also prohibited full-face coverings, including the burqa and niqab, in schools. Violations can result in fines ranging from €200 to €1,000, with penalties applying to parents when the person wearing the covering is a minor. The decree further requires parents of students facing serious integration difficulties to attend free Italian-language courses if they do not have sufficient knowledge of the language. Failure to attend can also lead to financial penalties. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said inadequate knowledge of Italian can hinder students’ educational progress and stressed the importance of parents participating in their children’s education. According to Italian authorities, around 34,000 school classes currently have more than 30 per cent foreign students. However, the new language-related limit is not a blanket restriction on all foreign students. Students born in Italy or those who have completed the required period of early education are exempt under the relevant criteria. The measures have drawn criticism from opposition figures and other groups in Italy. Opposition leader Elly Schlein accused the government of targeting children and criticized the policy, while the government has defended the decree as a measure intended to promote integration in schools.
