Italy Moves to Ban Burqas and Niqabs in Schools, Limit Foreign Students

Italy is set to implement a ban on face-covering veils, such as the burqa and niqab, within schools, alongside a cap on the number of foreign students allowed in each classroom. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made this announcement during a recent event with the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party.

The proposed measures, which Meloni intends to present to the Cabinet, are aimed at improving integration and language skills among students. Parents of foreign students who face significant challenges in adapting to the Italian educational system will be mandated to learn the Italian language.

In her address, Meloni stressed the importance of these plans in tackling issues surrounding immigration and cultural integration. "A measure will soon be presented to a Cabinet meeting to legally establish a maximum number of foreign students per class," she stated, as reported by Reuters. However, the Prime Minister did not disclose the specific number of foreign students proposed for inclusion in a single class.

The reasoning behind the limit is to foster better integration of students into the school system. Meloni noted that if only one child in a class struggles to understand Italian, they are likely to learn the language with support from their peers. Conversely, if the majority of a class does not speak the language, it can lead to neglect rather than genuine integration.

According to Fondazione ISMU, a research institution cited by Reuters, non-Italian students account for 11.6 per cent of all pupils in Italian schools. The government aims to ensure that all students attend school with their faces uncovered, with Meloni asserting that culture and tradition should not dictate the visibility of young women in educational environments.

The new regulations specifically target full-face coverings, distinguishing them from the hijab, which leaves the face visible. "You must go to school with your face uncovered, and in Italy no one, in the name of a real or supposed tradition, can decide that a young woman must hide herself," Meloni added.

These measures represent a key part of Meloni’s broader migration policy, which has increasingly focused on tightening regulations around immigration and integration since her government took office in 2022. Italy, situated in the central Mediterranean, has become a significant entry point for migrants arriving from North Africa, resulting in a politically charged atmosphere regarding immigration.

Meloni’s administration has sought to enhance migration control, including initiatives targeting people smuggling and reforms to the country’s asylum process. One notable programme involved an agreement with Albania to establish facilities outside the European Union for processing migrants.

The announcement occurs amid an ongoing debate across Europe regarding the legality and morality of regulating religious clothing, particularly full-face coverings. Various European nations have already adopted similar restrictions, including France, which has a comprehensive ban on face covering in public spaces. Other countries like Belgium, Denmark, and Austria have implemented broader regulations concerning face coverings.

The Netherlands has similarly prohibited the wearing of face coverings in educational and healthcare settings since 2019, emphasizing that the law is applied universally and is not limited to religious attire.

Meloni's measures underscore a significant shift in Italy's approach to multiculturalism in schools, as her government aims to redefine the parameters of integration and participation in the educational ecosystem for foreign students.