Meloni promises to ban burqas, niqabs in Italy’s schools

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans on Sunday to restrict the use of face coverings like burqas and hijabs in schools, as well as set a cap on the number of foreign students per classroom, during a youth event hosted by her Brothers of Italy party. The government plans to introduce legislation to legally establish the maximum number of foreign students allowed in each class.

Additionally, parents of foreign students struggling to integrate into the school system will be required to learn Italian. Meloni argued that if a single child in a class does not understand Italian, they can still learn and integrate with assistance from peers and educators. However, she emphasized that if a significant portion of students in a class fail to grasp the language, it would be deemed neglect rather than integration.

Meloni stressed that Italian children should not perceive themselves as a minority in their classrooms. She further stated that students in Italy must attend school with their faces uncovered, asserting that no one should be allowed to decide, "in the name of a real or supposed tradition," that a young woman must conceal herself.

The issue of immigration is particularly sensitive in Italy, given its location in the central Mediterranean, making it one of the European nations most exposed to migrant arrivals. Immigration remains a divisive topic within Italian politics and society, with debates surrounding religious symbols, cultural assimilation, citizenship regulations, and immigration policy regularly sparking public disagreement.

According to a research institution cited by Reuters, foreign students account for 11.6% of total school enrollment in Italy, which translates to approximately 12 out of every 100 students. However, Meloni did not specify the precise cap on foreign students per class during her announcement.