Italy’s government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has announced plans to introduce legislation that would ban burqas and niqabs in schools and impose limits on the number of foreign students allowed per classroom. Meloni outlined the measures during a speech to the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party.

The proposed bill aims to legally establish a maximum percentage of foreign pupils in each class and would require parents of foreign students who face significant challenges with integration to learn Italian. Meloni emphasized the importance of language acquisition and cultural integration, stating that those wishing to build a future in Italy must respect the country’s language, culture, and rules. “It is unthinkable that, in an Italian classroom, it is the Italian children who feel they have become a minority,” she said.

Italy serves as a major entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, particularly from North Africa. The number of foreign students in Italian schools has grown substantially over recent decades, rising from around 307,000 in the 2003-04 school year (3.5% of all pupils) to approximately 930,000 in 2023-24, representing about 11.6% of enrolled students, according to Fondazione ISMU, a research institute.

While caps on foreign students in classrooms exist under current Italian law, Meloni did not specify how her government intends to adjust these limits. Since 2010, a 30% threshold has been applied, which can be modified depending on students’ language proficiency or other integration factors. The prime minister’s announcement did not clarify what new maximum would be proposed.

The proposed ban on face coverings such as burqas and niqabs has sparked debate amid broader discussions on integration and religious freedom. Italy does not have an explicit nationwide ban on such garments in public spaces or schools. Existing legislation prohibits clothing that conceals the face, like helmets or masks, unless justified, and the country’s highest administrative court has ruled full-face veils may be permitted for religious or cultural reasons as long as the face can be shown for identification.

Critics of the ban argue that it could infringe on constitutional protections, which guarantee individuals the right to freely profess their religion and practise worship in private or public settings. Supporters, including the far-right National Future party, have recently called for stricter regulations on face coverings in schools, positioning the issue as part of a larger campaign on immigration and social integration ahead of Italy’s upcoming general election.

The League party, a coalition partner in Meloni’s government, previously introduced legislation targeting face coverings but with allowances for places of worship and certain events. The political landscape suggests the debate over these educational and cultural policies will remain a significant and polarizing topic in Italy's domestic politics in the months to come.