The cabinet of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Sunday that Italy will prohibit the burqa and niqab in all public schools, while also imposing a 30 % ceiling on the share of students who speak little Italian in any given class. The decree, presented as a "common‑sense" approach to social cohesion, has sparked a heated debate across the political spectrum.
Background
Italy has long grappled with how to integrate a growing number of non‑Italian pupils. According to the research institute Fondazione ISMU, non‑Italian citizens already constitute 11.6 % of school enrolments. In 2010, a ministerial notice under Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini suggested a 30 % limit on pupils without Italian citizenship, but it remained a guideline rather than law.
Details of the Ban
The new decree explicitly targets the burqa and niqab, both of which cover the face, while allowing the hijab – a headscarf that leaves the face visible – to be worn. Prime Minister Meloni stressed that "you must go to school with your face uncovered," framing the restriction as a matter of gender equality rather than religious discrimination.
Language Cap
Alongside the veil ban, the decree sets a 30 % cap on pupils who have limited proficiency in Italian. The rule applies differently across educational stages:
- Primary schools: The cap includes non‑Italian citizens who were not born in Italy or who have not attended at least two years of nursery school.
- Lower‑ and upper‑secondary schools: It covers students without Italian citizenship who have not completed at least three years in the Italian school system.
Local school offices are tasked with distributing such pupils more evenly among nearby schools. Where redistribution is impossible, exemptions allow for additional Italian language instruction, and schools must report persistent language barriers to social services.
Political Reactions
Supporters, including Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara, argue the measures are "purely linguistic" and aim to promote integration. The League’s Matteo Salvini, however, has launched a separate package targeting what he calls "political Islam," and both he and the hard‑right Futuro Nazionale party have been accused of influencing the decree.
Opposition parties, notably the centre‑left Democratic Party (PD), have condemned the plan as propaganda. PD leader Elly Schlein called it "impossible to implement," while deputy Anna Ascani accused the government of prioritising political messaging over students' welfare.
Potential Impact
If enacted, the decree could affect thousands of students across Italy’s primary, middle, and high schools. By limiting the proportion of pupils with limited Italian, the government hopes to accelerate language acquisition and, by extension, social integration. The veil ban, meanwhile, seeks to align school dress codes with a broader European trend of restricting face‑covering garments in public institutions.
Uncertainty
Because the decree is a decreto legge, it takes immediate effect but must be ratified by parliament within 60 days. The final parliamentary vote could introduce amendments, particularly concerning enforcement mechanisms and exemptions. Moreover, legal challenges may arise on grounds of religious freedom, as seen in other European jurisdictions that have faced court scrutiny over similar bans.
In sum, Italy’s latest education reforms combine cultural, linguistic, and gender‑related objectives. Their success will depend on how schools manage the practicalities of language support, how courts interpret the veil restrictions, and whether political consensus can be maintained through the required parliamentary ratification.