Italy’s government passed a decree on Thursday (September 24, 2026) to place an upper limit on the number of students in each school classroom who have only limited Italian language skills and to ban face-covering Islamic veils in schools.
Opponents, including some educators, unions and opposition parties, warn that new rules could force students to attend schools far from their neighbourhoods, while critics accuse the government of turning immigration into a political issue. School principals questioned how the measure could work in areas with large migrant populations. “Differences mean opportunities, and as with every opportunity, one must be able to catch it. Foreign students who were born in the country would be exempt from the cap, along with those who attended Italian preschool or have already progressed through the school system. The decree also bans burqas and niqabs in schools while continuing to allow hijabs. The measure is narrower than restrictions adopted in some other European countries. France also prohibits students from wearing conspicuous religious symbols, including Islamic headscarves, in public schools under its strict secularism doctrine. Educators noted that while headscarves are common among some Muslim students, full-face veils are seldom seen in schools, and they argued that the provision risks becoming a symbolic political issue rather than an educational one. Centre-left leader Elly Schlein accused the government of using schools to advance a political message on migration. Mr. Valditara, the Education Minister, rejected those criticisms, saying the goal is integration through language acquisition and stronger educational support. It would also require some parents of foreign students to attend Italian-language courses when language barriers within families contribute to educational or behavioural difficulties. Schools would refer eligible families to social services, which could enrol them in a tailored support program through adult education centres.
The Minister says it would affect around 1,000 classrooms, about 0.3% of the total nationwide, and primarily those with high concentrations of recently arrived students with little or no Italian-language proficiency. In most cases they (foreign students) allow the class to enrich their view of the world,” said Giovanni Castagno, a 52-year-old primary school teacher in central Rome. Students without Italian citizenship accounted for 11.2% of Italy’s school population in the 2022-23 academic year, while classes with more than 30% foreign students represented 7.6% of the total, according to Education Ministry data. France banned full-face veils in public spaces in 2011, citing public security concerns, despite the small number of women affected. Opposition parties also said the 30% threshold largely mirrors guidance already introduced by the Education Ministry in 2010, noting the government was repackaging an existing policy rather than investing in struggling schools. The decree provides additional teaching resources for schools where newly arrived foreign students exceed 20% of enrollment and additional language-learning funds for schools exceeding the 30% threshold. Parents who fail to attend the courses could face fines ranging from 200 to 1,000 euros, although exemptions are included for those with certified age-related, medical or disability-related barriers to language learning.
Premier Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government said the package is aimed at strengthening integration through language learning and has drawn support from right-wing allies. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said local school authorities will coordinate student placements to avoid concentrations of non-Italian-speaking pupils, while schools unable to comply would be eligible for exemptions and additional language-support funding. “From an educational perspective, the issue is well-founded and valid, but it’s difficult to turn it into a practical solution,” said Antonello Giannelli, president of the National Association of Principals. Critics in Italy said the provision addresses a phenomenon rarely seen in Italian classrooms.
Teachers’ unions criticised what they called a lack of both consultation and resources for the measure. They argued that the government’s 14-million-euro ($16 million) funding package would not be enough to hire specialised language teachers and cultural mediators needed to support students.
Under the plan, a limit of 30% of foreign students lacking sufficient Italian proficiency would be allowed in any individual classroom. The Government decree goes into effect immediately but needs to be endorsed within 60 days in parliament, where Ms. With elections possible as early as next spring, analysts say the measures allow the premier to reassert her credentials on issues central to her conservative base, even though their impact is likely to be limited and significant questions remain about how they would be enforced. Meloni’s coalition commands a majority. Ms. The decree comes as Ms. Meloni faces mounting pressure on her right flank from a new hard-line challenger, retired army Gen. Roberto Vannacci, who has been seeking to capitalise on voter concerns over immigration and national identity. “We have situations in which there is a district, a neighbourhood that is mainly inhabited by immigrants and maybe there is only one school. So, since these are children, presumably young children in primary school, it is evident that they will hardly be able to go kilometres from their home,” Mr. Giannelli added.
Meloni wrote on social media that they are “common-sense measures that do not divide but help foster genuine integration, avoiding ghetto classrooms and giving all students equal opportunities”.
