Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools. The move is part of a broader package aimed at integrating foreign students. Meloni disclosed the plan while addressing a gathering of the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. She stated that the government would also introduce a limit on the number of foreign students allowed in each class. This measure aims to promote integration and address challenges faced by foreign students in Italian schools.
The proposed measures come as migration and the integration of foreign nationals remain major political issues in Italy ahead of next year’s general election. Italy, one of Europe’s main entry points for migrants, has faced sustained political debate over immigration and the integration of migrant communities. The issue has also been raised by parties further to the right of Meloni’s government. The National Future (FN), which is outside the governing coalition, called for a crackdown on burqas in schools in July.
The proposed restriction on face-covering garments would introduce a specific school-related ban. Italy currently has no law that expressly prohibits burqas or niqabs in schools or public places. Under a 1975 law, the use of helmets or garments that make identification difficult is prohibited unless there is a justified reason. Italy’s highest administrative court later clarified in 2008 that full-face veils could be worn for religious or cultural reasons, provided the face is uncovered when identity checks are required.
The issue of burqas and niqabs has been a topic of discussion among various Italian parties. The National Future (FN) has emerged as a significant challenger to Meloni’s political bloc after its support rose sharply in polls following its February launch. The FN’s call for a crackdown on burqas in schools reflects a broader debate on the integration of migrant communities in Italy.
Meloni’s proposed limit on foreign students would also affect an area already covered by Italian law. However, she did not explain how the new proposal would alter the existing rules. Foreign students make up just under 12 per cent of enrolments in Italian schools, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (ISTAT). This data suggests that foreign students are a significant but not overwhelming proportion of Italian school enrolments.
Since 2010, Italian regulations have generally capped foreign students at 30 per cent of a class and a school’s overall enrolment. The threshold can be increased for foreign students with sufficient Italian-language skills, including those born in Italy, while it can be reduced for students with limited knowledge of Italian. Meloni’s government aims to refine these regulations to promote better integration of foreign students.
The Italian government’s plans to ban burqas and niqabs in schools and limit the number of foreign students per class reflect broader efforts to address integration challenges. These measures are likely to be debated extensively in the Italian parliament and may face opposition from various stakeholders. The outcome of these debates will be closely watched by observers of Italian politics and those interested in migration and integration issues.
Key points
- Italian PM Giorgia Meloni plans to ban burqas and niqabs in schools as part of a broader package to integrate foreign students.
- The proposed ban on face-covering garments would introduce a specific school-related ban, as Italy currently has no law expressly prohibiting burqas or niqabs in schools or public places.
- Meloni’s proposed limit on foreign students would affect an area already covered by Italian law, which currently caps foreign students at 30 per cent of a class and a school’s overall enrolment.
