Saturday, September 25, 2026 - Italy’s government has approved new school rules limiting the number of students with insufficient Italian-language skills in individual classrooms and banning full-face veils in schools.
The decree sets a 30% limit for certain foreign students in first-year classes, with exemptions for children born in Italy or those who have already spent significant time in the Italian education system. The government says the measures are intended to strengthen language learning and integration.
The decree also prohibits students and parents from taking part in school activities with their faces covered, effectively banning the burqa and niqab while allowing the hijab. Violations can result in fines of up to €1,000.
The rules also provide additional language support for schools with high numbers of newly arrived foreign students and introduce Italian-language courses for some parents facing persistent language barriers.
The measures have already triggered criticism from educators, teachers’ unions and opposition parties, who question how the classroom limits will work in areas with large migrant populations and whether the available funding will be sufficient.
The decree takes effect immediately but must receive parliamentary approval within 60 days. The government says the policy will promote integration and prevent excessive concentrations of students with limited Italian proficiency in individual classrooms.
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