Italy: Cabinet approves ban on veiling and quota of foreigners in schools

In Italy, a ban on veiling will apply in all schools from the next school year. In addition, a maximum of 30 percent of the children in a class should be foreigners with a lack of knowledge of Italian, as the government in Rome announced.

"Organizing classes in such a way that they are, let's say, balanced is a tool that benefits everyone and promotes integration," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the Rai broadcaster. She had already announced the controversial rules last week at a youth event organized by her right-wing party Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy). Now her cabinet has decided on the measures by decree.

Meloni has led Italy's three-party coalition of right-wing and conservative parties since 2022. The 49-year-old had successfully campaigned with the promise of a tough course against migrants.

The decree is primarily aimed at newly immigrated students: the 30 percent quota includes children in the first grades who do not have Italian citizenship, were not born in Italy and have not attended an Italian kindergarten for at least two years.

The same rules apply in middle and high school, but instead of two years of kindergarten, students must have attended Italian schools for at least three years in order not to fall into the 30 percent quota.

The decree states that concealment is not permitted. The face must be recognizable. This is likely to be aimed primarily at facial veils such as burqas or niqabs. There was no information from the government as to how many children this regulation might affect.

It's not just children who are affected by the new regulations. Parents with significant language problems should also take Italian lessons if communication with the school is impaired. The decree stipulates that schools should inform the youth welfare offices if parents have significant language difficulties. The social services can then offer free Italian courses.

Anyone who fails to comply with the newly issued rules will face a fine. Italian media speak of a fine of 200 to 1,000 euros that parents could face.

There was criticism from the education sector about the difficult practical implementation of the plans. One union described the decree as "propagandistic" and said it ignored the school's real problems.