Italy’s government has approved a decree-law banning the burqa and niqab in schools and introducing a 30% cap on pupils with limited Italian-language skills in certain classes.
The measures can take effect immediately but must be ratified by parliament within 60 days.
The approval moves the policy beyond the proposal stage covered in our earlier report on Italy’s planned school veil ban and classroom cap.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the measures were intended to support integration, while Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the 30% limit is based on Italian-language ability rather than citizenship alone.
The veil restriction applies to the burqa and niqab, which cover the face, but not the hijab. Exemptions to the classroom cap will be possible where local schools cannot redistribute pupils, with additional Italian-language support expected in such cases.
