World

Italy to ban burqas and limit foreign students per classroom

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced new school measures, including a ban on veils and limits on the number of foreign students per class.

21 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Italy to ban burqas and limit foreign students per classroom — Archive photoPhoto: 内閣広報室 / Cabinet Public Affairs Office · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, announced last Sunday that the government is preparing a set of measures aimed at restricting the presence of foreign students in schools. During a youth event for her party, Brothers of Italy, Meloni revealed that a limit on the number of foreign students per classroom will be introduced. The Prime Minister did not specify what the exact limit will be for this measure.

Additionally, Meloni stated that the use of burqas and veils covering the face will be banned in schools, aiming to promote greater integration among students. This announcement comes in a context where Italy is facing a significant flow of immigration, making the integration of migrants a central theme in government agendas.

Meloni also indicated that there will be a requirement for the parents of foreign students who face integration difficulties to learn Italian. This measure aims to facilitate families' interaction with the national education system and ensure that their children feel more at home in Italian schools.

Reactions to these proposals have been mixed, with some praising the initiative as a step towards integration, while others criticize the measures as discriminatory and difficult to implement. School directors expressed concerns regarding the practical challenges in enforcing a limit on foreign students, given that decisions about schooling are often influenced by the geographical proximity of institutions.

The new policies still need to be formally presented to the Cabinet for discussion and potential parliamentary approval, as indicated by Meloni. Implementing these proposals, including drafting future legislation and coordinating with schools, will be a significant challenge.

The issue of non-Italian students' presence in schools is relevant, as they represent approximately 11.6% of all enrolled in the country's educational institutions. Meloni's new initiatives intensify the debate on immigration and national identity in Italy.

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