New rules for Italian schools: limits on foreign students and a ban on full-face veils
The Italian government has announced major changes to the national school system that will come into effect in the coming months. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has declared the intention to introduce a maximum cap on the number of foreign students in each classroom, with the goal of fostering better integration and the learning of the Italian language.
According to reports, the measure stipulates that the percentage of foreign students must not exceed a specific threshold per class. The stated objective is to avoid the formation of overly homogeneous groups, instead encouraging more direct contact between students of different backgrounds and Italian culture. The Ministry of Education is working on the technical details to implement this rule gradually.
In addition to the numerical limit, the government has expressed the desire to ban the use of the burqa and niqab within educational institutions. The proposal is based on the need to ensure the certain identification of students and to promote a school environment based on sharing and transparency. This decision has already sparked a wide debate among political forces and civil rights associations.
The new provisions aim to profoundly change the organization of schools, especially in large cities where the presence of students of foreign origin is higher. Local school authorities will now have to evaluate how to manage enrollments to comply with the new parameters established by the central government.
The measure marks a significant change in the management of public education in Italy. While the government maintains that these rules are necessary to ensure social cohesion and order in classrooms, the opposition is calling for greater clarity on the methods of application and the possible long-term effects for the families involved.