Italy Bans Face-Covering Veils in Schools and Introduces Limits on Non-Italian-Speaking Students

Italy Bans Face-Covering Veils in Schools and Introduces Limits on Non-Italian-Speaking Students
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The Italian government has approved a new decree banning the wearing of burqas, niqabs, and other face coverings that prevent identification inside schools, while introducing new measures to regulate the distribution of foreign students and strengthen Italian-language education.

Under the decree, students affected by the new limits should not exceed 30% of a classroom’s total enrollment, with exceptions based on factors such as residence and family circumstances. The measure mainly targets primary school students who were not born in Italy or who have not attended kindergarten for at least two years, while different criteria will apply at secondary school level.

The government has allocated additional funding to support Italian-language programs in schools unable to meet the 30% threshold. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the aim is to make Italian a key tool for integration, noting that around 34,000 classes currently exceed the proposed limit.

The decree also allows social services to become involved when students face serious integration difficulties linked to language barriers. Parents who do not speak Italian may be required to attend free language courses, with fines ranging from €200 to €1,000 for non-compliance. Violations of the face-covering ban in schools could also result in fines of up to €1,000.