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Italy Approves Ban on Burqas and Niqabs in Schools, Imposes Cap on Non-Italian Students

Prime Minister Meloni’s cabinet finalises decree after earlier promises; opposition decries electioneering

By LineZotpaper
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Sources4 outlets
The Italian government has approved a decree banning burqas and niqabs in schools and capping at 30% the share of pupils in each first-year class who lack Italian citizenship or have limited Italian language skills, Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara announced after a council of ministers meeting on Thursday.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate." The ban targets the full-face veils (burqa and niqab) but explicitly excludes the hijab, which leaves the face visible.

Under the new rules, a 30% limit will apply to children without Italian citizenship or with poor knowledge of Italian in the first year of primary, middle, and high school. Valditara said the cap is "purely linguistic" rather than based on citizenship. He also framed the veil ban as a matter of gender equality.

Meloni first announced the plans on Sunday, stating that "you must go to school with your face uncovered" and that no one could decide that a young woman should hide herself in the name of tradition.

Non-Italian citizens make up 11.6% of pupils in Italy’s schools, according to the research institution Fondazione ISMU. The new decree covers different educational stages separately; in primary schools, the cap applies to non-Italian citizens who have either not been born in Italy or who have not attended a—

Opposition parties accuse the government of pandering to the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party ahead of a general election next year. The vote comes as Meloni, who leads Italy’s longest-serving government since World War II, faces an electoral threat from the far-right rival party.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • This is a concrete policy move from announcement to decree, affecting hundreds of thousands of students in Italy's increasingly multicultural classrooms.
  • The measures signal a further rightward shift in Italian domestic policy ahead of a general election, and could influence similar debates across Europe.
  • The ban on full-face veils in schools extends existing national security provisions against face-covering in public into the education sphere.

Background

Italy has long debated the presence of religious symbols and immigrant integration in public schools. While the hijab is widely permitted, the burqa and niqab have been controversial, with previous governments resisting a blanket ban. Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has historically advocated for stricter immigration and cultural assimilation policies. The new decree comes as she faces growing competition from the more hardline Futuro Nazionale party in the upcoming general election.

Key Perspectives

Meloni Government: Argues the measures are about integration, gender equality, and pragmatism—ensuring all students learn Italian and that no symbol of female subordination is imposed in state schools. Opposition Parties: Accuse the government of adopting Futuro Nazionale’s far-right platform to win back voters, at the cost of stigmatising immigrant communities. Civil Liberties Advocates: Likely to argue the 30% cap risks segregation and that the veil ban targets a specific religious practice, raising constitutional and human rights concerns.

What to Watch

  • Legal challenges against the decree once it is published in the official gazette.
  • Impact on immigrant enrolment patterns and potential for parallel private alternatives.
  • Reaction from the EU and international human rights organisations.
  • Election polls to see if the policy shifts support away from Futuro Nazionale.

Sources

Zotpaper

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