Italy to ban veils in schools, limit foreign students per class, Meloni says

Italy plans to ban face coverings in schools and limit the number of foreign students per class, according to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Speaking at a youth event for her party, Meloni emphasized her conservative views and outlined plans to address concerns over migration and integration. The issue of migration is a contentious topic in Italian politics, given the country's location in the Mediterranean and its status as a major destination for migrants.

Meloni proposed presenting a measure to a Cabinet meeting to legally set a maximum number of foreign students in each class. She also suggested that parents of foreign students facing significant integration challenges must learn Italian. Additionally, she proposed a ban on burqas and niqabs in schools. Meloni argued that if only one student in a class struggles with language, they would benefit from classmates and teachers.

However, if a large number of students fail to grasp the language or a majority do not, it would constitute neglect instead of integration.

Meloni did not specify the exact number of foreign students permitted per class. Currently, 11.6% of students enrolled in Italian schools are not Italian citizens, equating to nearly 12 out of every 100 students, as reported by Fondazione ISMU, a research institution. Meloni emphasized that students should attend classes with their faces visible, stating that no one, in the name of tradition, should decide that a young woman must cover herself.