In a move that has sparked debate across Italy, the government has introduced new regulations that prohibit the wearing of burqas and niqabs in educational institutions. Additionally, the legislation imposes a cap on the number of students who have limited proficiency in Italian within any given class.
Details of the New Measures
The newly approved measures set a 30% limit on students at the primary, middle, and high school levels who either do not hold Italian citizenship or possess minimal Italian language skills. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described these policies as “practical tools that foster integration rather than division.”
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara emphasized that the language proficiency cap is focused on linguistic abilities rather than citizenship status. He also framed the ban on facial veils as an effort to promote gender equality, stating that “students must attend school with their faces visible.”
Opposition and Criticism
Despite the government’s justifications, the measures have faced criticism from opposition parties. Critics accuse the administration of aligning with the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party’s agenda as a strategy for the upcoming general election. Elly Schlein, leader of the centre-left Democratic Party, labeled the plan as political propaganda and impractical.
Minister Valditara, addressing the issue from New York via video, dismissed these criticisms, asserting that the government is not following the lead of Roberto Vannacci, the Futuro Nazionale leader, but rather that he is aligning with them.
Implementation and Broader Implications
The decree, which requires parliamentary ratification within 60 days, is aimed at preventing the formation of “ghetto classes” by distributing students with limited Italian skills more evenly among schools. Where necessary, additional Italian instruction will be provided, and persistent language barriers will warrant social services intervention to support parental integration.
This initiative builds on existing guidelines; a 2010 notice had already suggested a 30% cap on non-citizen students. However, the current decree solidifies this guideline into law, marking a significant shift in policy.
