Italy Sets 30% Non-Italian Speaker Cap and Bans Veils in Schools

Italy’s government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, approved a decree placing an upper limit on the number of students with limited Italian language skills in individual classrooms. The package also prohibits full-face Islamic veils, such as the burqa and niqab, inside school premises while continuing to allow standard hijabs.

The conservative coalition maintains that these measures aim to foster genuine integration, prevent "ghetto classrooms," and ensure equal educational opportunities through language learning. However, the decree has drawn immediate criticism from opposition leaders, educators, and teachers' unions who question its practical implementation and political motivations.

What are the main rules in the new decree?

Under the new policy, individual school classrooms will generally cap students lacking sufficient Italian proficiency at 30 percent. The threshold applies based on language fluency rather than nationality or citizenship, meaning foreign-born students proficient in Italian or those born in Italy are exempt.

Additionally, the decree introduces mandatory Italian language courses for parents when language barriers at home lead to educational or behavioral challenges for students. To support these initiatives, the government allocated a 14-million-euro funding package for extra teaching staff and language assistance.

Why did the government introduce this policy?

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara explained that the measure targets approximately 1,000 classrooms nationwide—about 0.3 percent of the total—where non-Italian speakers are heavily concentr10net

Analysts note that Prime Minister Meloni faces growing political pressure from right-wing rivals who emphasize national identity and immigration concerns. Introducing visible integration policies allows the governing coalition to address core conservative issues ahead of upcoming regional and national debates.

What challenges do critics and educators point out?

School leadership associations and unions argue that capping language-deficient students at 30 percent will create logistical nightmares in urban neighborhoods with high migrant populations. Antonello Giannelli, head of the National Association of Principals, noted that young children might be forced to commute far from their local neighborhoods if nearby schools hit the cap.

Critics also argue that full-face veils are extremely rare in Italian public schools, making the ban largely symbolic. Opposition figures contend that the 30 percent target mirrors existing ministry guidelines from 2010 and accused the government of repackaging old rules rather than addressing deeper funding shortages in public education.

The decree takes effect immediately but must be ratified by the Italian Parliament within 60 days to remain law.