Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that the use of burqas and niqabs will be banned in the country’s schools and that restrictions will be imposed on the number of foreign students in classes.
Speaking at a youth gathering of the Brothers of Italy party, Meloni said that foreign students and their families should learn the Italian language, become familiar with the country’s culture, and respect its laws. He also announced that Italian language education would be made mandatory for parents of some foreign students.
The government’s new proposals, after being approved by the cabinet, will need parliamentary approval to become law. There is currently a 30 percent cap on the number of foreign students in each class and school, but Meloni did not provide further details about changing this limit.
This decision comes as immigration is a major issue in Italy’s 2027 general elections, and right-wing parties have taken a tougher stance on immigration policies; according to Al Jazeera, foreign students make up about 12 percent of all students in Italian schools.
