Italy caps foreign students at 30% per classroom, bans face veils in schools

Italy's government approved a decree capping students with limited Italian skills at 30% per classroom and banning face-covering veils in schools, starting in 2027-28. The measure aims to promote integration but faces criticism from educators and school leaders over feasibility in high-immigration areas, with Milan's mayor warning of potential school closures.

Quick Facts

Government approved decree imposing 30% cap on students with limited Italian skills per classroom
Ban on face-covering veils (burqas and niqabs) in schools
Requirement for parents with language barriers to attend free Italian courses
Fines of 200-1,000 euros for non-compliance with veil ban and parental language course requirements
Allocation of 17.5 million euros for language-support programs

Italy's government approved a decree on September 24, 2026, imposing a 30% cap on students with limited Italian language skills in any single classroom and banning face-covering veils (burqas and niqabs) in schools, set to take effect in the 2027-28 academic year. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni framed the measures as "common-sense" tools to prevent "ghetto classrooms" and promote genuine integration, while the government allocated 17.5 million euros for language-support programs and additional funding for schools unable to comply.

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara stated the cap would affect approximately 1,000 classrooms, or 0.3% of Italy's total, and emphasized the limit is based on language proficiency rather than citizenship, applying also to EU students lacking Italian skills. The decree allows exemptions based on students' residence and family circumstances. The measure also requires parents of children with persistent language difficulties to attend free Italian-language courses; non-compliance can result in fines of 200 to 1,000 euros. Violations of the veil ban carry similar fines.

School principals and teachers' unions raised practical concerns about implementation. Antonello Giannelli, president of the National Association of School Principals, noted the difficulty of redistributing students in areas with large migrant populations where neighborhood schools may be the only option for young children. The FLC CGIL teachers' union criticized the decree as "propagandistic" and disconnected from real school challenges, arguing that the government's funding package was insufficient for hiring specialized language teachers and cultural mediators.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala warned that the cap could force closures of entire schools in districts where immigrant children exceed 30% of the population, though he downplayed the veil ban as affecting only a small number of students. Rights campaigners and opposition politicians, including Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, accused the government of using the measures for electoral positioning ahead of the 2027 general election, amid rising support for the far-right Futuro Nazionale party led by retired general Roberto Vannacci.

According to Education Ministry data, non-citizen students represented 11.2% of Italy's school population in the 2022-23 academic year, while 7.6% of classes had more than 30% foreign students. The decree requires parliamentary ratification within 60 days; President Sergio Mattarella expressed concern about potential barriers to education access. Reactions from parents in Rome's multicultural neighborhoods were mixed, with some supporting language integration measures while others questioned the feasibility and fairness of the approach.

Topics

Politics Education World

#election 2027 #Futuro Nazionale #niqab ban #burqa ban #foreign students #foreign students cap #immigrant students #Far-right politics #education policy #language requirements

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Why This Matters

Italy's decree directly affects classroom composition and school operations starting 2027-28, potentially requiring redistribution of approximately 1,000 classrooms. Schools in high-immigration districts face operational pressure; Milan's mayor cited risks of school closures in neighborhoods where immigrant children exceed 30%. The 17.5 million euro language-support allocation and mandatory parental attendance requirements create measurable compliance costs and enforcement mechanisms. Parliamentary ratification within 60 days will determine whether the measure becomes law.

Timeline & Sources

Jan 1, 2010

Wire

Ministerial notice under Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini sets 30% guideline on pupils without Italian citizenship

Sep 22, 2026

Wire

Meloni announces measures at Brothers of Italy youth division event, stating 'Italian children cannot become minority in classrooms'

Sep 25, 2026

Wire

Milan Mayor Sala warns of potential school closures; school leaders and unions express concerns about implementation

Sep 25, 2026

Wire

President Mattarella flags concern about potential barriers to education access