Italy's government has banned burqas and niqabs in schools and set a 30% cap on foreign students with limited Italian proficiency in classrooms. The measures, effective immediately, aim to promote integration and avoid 'ghetto classrooms' while facing criticism over potential impacts on students and enforcement.
The decree, approved by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, restricts face-covering veils and limits non-Italian speakers in classrooms to 30% of each class. It affects around 1,000 classrooms, or 0.3% of Italy's total, and is set to be ratified by parliament within 60 days. Meloni described the rules as 'common-sense tools' to ensure equal opportunities for all students.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara emphasized the measure's focus on language integration, noting that it would affect areas with high concentrations of recently arrived students. Critics, including educators and opposition parties, warn of practical challenges in implementation, particularly in regions with large migrant populations, and question the government's resources and enforcement capabilities.
Opponents argue the measures risk creating 'first-class' and 'second-class' students and accuse Meloni of turning immigration into a political issue. The government faces pressure from right-wing allies and a hard-line challenger, Gen. Roberto Vannacci, as elections loom, with critics claiming the policies prioritize political gain over educational and social integration.