Italy bans burqa and niqab in school and limits foreign students in class

Italy’s government has approved new rules for schools that ban the burqa and niqab and introduce a 30% limit on foreign students.

Students will not be allowed to wear the burqa or niqab in schools. The rule does not cover the hijab, which leaves the face uncovered.

The government has also introduced a 30% limit for pupils with poor Italian-language skills in the first year of primary, middle and high school.

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said that the limit is based on language ability rather than citizenship. Authorities want to prevent large numbers of pupils with limited Italian from being placed together in the same class.

Under the rules for primary schools, the limit will apply to non-Italian citizens who were not born in Italy or did not attend at least two years of nursery school.

For middle and high schools, it will apply to non-Italian citizens who have not completed at least three years of education in Italy.

Local education offices will be asked to distribute pupils with limited Italian among schools in the same area. If that cannot be done, schools can receive exemptions but will have to provide additional Italian-language classes.

The government says the measures are intended to improve integration and avoid the creation of segregated classes.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said students should attend school with their faces uncovered. She also said cultural or traditional practices should not determine whether a young woman has to cover her face.

Italy’s opposition has criticised the measures, accusing Meloni’s government of responding to pressure from the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party ahead of next year’s general election.

According to Fondazione ISMU, 11.6% of pupils in Italian schools are non-Italian citizens.