Italy to Ban Burqas and Niqabs in Schools, Meloni Says
- Italy is preparing to ban burqas and niqabs in schools, Meloni told her party’s youth wing on Sunday.
- A measure going to Cabinet will set a legal maximum of foreign students per class, though no number has been given.
- Parents of foreign students who struggle to integrate into the school system will have to learn Italian.
Italy is preparing to ban burqas and niqabs in schools, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday.
She also plans to set a legal limit on how many foreign students can be in one class. Meloni spoke at the annual gathering of the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party.
Cap on Foreign Students in Each Class
Meloni said a measure will soon go before a Cabinet meeting to set a maximum number of foreign students per class in law. She did not say what that number would be.
She said one child who does not understand Italian will likely learn the language quickly with help from classmates and teachers. But if the number of such children grows, the picture changes.
“If the number of children who don’t understand the language becomes large – or even the majority – that is no longer integration; it is neglect,” she said.
Italian Lessons for Parents
The same measure would require parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into the school system to learn Italian.
Face Coverings Banned in Schools
The measure also bans burqas and niqabs in schools. Meloni said, “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.”
Foreign Students in Italian Schools
Students who are not Italian citizens make up 11.6% of those enrolled in Italian schools, according to the research institution Fondazione ISMU. That is nearly 12 in every 100 students.
Migration Expected to Shape Next Year’s Election
Immigration is expected to be a central issue in Italy’s general election next year. Meloni made her remarks at a youth event organised by her party, where she played up her right-wing credentials.
Italy’s position in the central Mediterranean makes it one of the European countries most exposed to migrant arrivals, and successive governments have struggled with the issue.
The integration of migrants, particularly those from Muslim-majority countries, remains contentious in Italian politics and society. Debates over religious symbols, cultural integration, citizenship rules and immigration policy often split public opinion.
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