Meloni Plans School Veil Ban, Foreign-Pupil Caps

Italy is preparing measures that would cap the number of foreign students in each classroom, require parents of foreign pupils facing serious integration difficulties to learn Italian, and ban face-covering veils such as the burqa and niqab in schools. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the proposals are intended to promote language acquisition and integration, arguing that classrooms where non-Italian-speaking students form a majority risk neglecting rather than supporting them. She did not specify the proposed student limit. Foreign nationals account for about 11.6% of pupils enrolled in Italian schools, according to the Fondazione ISMU. Meloni announced the plans at a youth event hosted by her Brothers of Italy party, reinforcing her government’s emphasis on immigration control and cultural integration.