The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has taken a key decision to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools. The cabinet has also decided to cap the number of foreign students who lack proper Italian language proficiency at no more than 30 percent per classroom.
Announcing the decision on social media, Meloni said students struggling with Italian in a class should not exceed 30 percent of the class, and that such students would be given more opportunities to learn the language properly. She added that burqas and niqabs would also be banned in schools. If a student is found to be struggling significantly to integrate with other children in school, the matter will be referred to social services officials, and the student’s parents will be required to attend free Italian language classes. Failure to comply with this requirement could attract a fine of up to 1,000 euros.
Migration and the education of migrant children have become major political issues in Italy, with debate intensifying ahead of next year’s general elections. Save the Children expressed concern over the decision, saying it was wrong to send children to different schools merely because they could not speak Italian properly or because of their nationality, warning that this could widen divisions among children. However, Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said that poor Italian proficiency affects children’s education and stressed that parents must also be partners in their children’s schooling.
Opposition leader Elly Schlein criticised the Meloni government’s decision, alleging that it was taking unnecessary action targeting children. Defending the ban on burqas and niqabs in schools, Meloni said it was a matter of security, arguing that requiring a woman or child to fully cover her face infringes on their basic rights and also acts as a barrier to integrating with society.
The National Future Party, which is not part of Meloni’s government but holds an even harder line, had already demanded action on the use of burqas in schools last July. The party has been gaining support in Italy since its launch in February, with recent surveys also indicating a rise in backing for it.