Italy’s education ministry has enacted a 30 percent cap on students without Italian citizenship or with insufficient Italian language skills in every first-year primary and secondary classroom, according to an ANSA report. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara stated the policy aims to prevent ghettoized classes, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued it ensures equal opportunities for all students. At the same time, the government banned face-covering veils in schools and tied persistent language barriers directly to social services.
Classroom Caps and Implementation Rules
Non-citizen students currently make up 11.6 percent of all pupils in Italian schools, based on ministry data cited by ANSA. Under the approved law, the 30 percent threshold applies differently across educational tiers. In primary schools, the limit targets children without Italian citizenship who were either born outside Italy or have not attended school in the country for at least two years. In secondary schools, the rule covers non-citizen students who lack a minimum of three years within the Italian education system.
Local school authorities must distribute these pupils among neighboring schools. Where reallocation proves impossible, the legislation permits exemptions tied to supplemental Italian language instruction. Valditara described the policy as purely linguistic.
Did you know? A similar 30 percent cap was introduced as a ministerial directive in 2010 by Mariastella Gelmini, then-education minister for the People of Freedom party of Silvio Berlusconi, though that prior measure was never codified into formal law.
Parental Accountability and Mandatory Language Reporting
The legislation extends beyond student caps to target family integration. Schools now carry a legal obligation to report cases to social services whenever persistent language barriers between students and those who have parental responsibility hinder a child’s integration. In response, local authorities will offer free Italian language courses to those parents.
Opposition figures immediately criticized the parental reporting mandate. Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party, accused Meloni’s government of launching a new witch hunt at the expense of children and dismissed the legislation as unworkable propaganda.
Burka and Niqab Ban in Schools
In addition to enrollment limits, the new law explicitly bans female students from wearing a burka or niqab on school grounds. A niqab covers a woman’s face except for the eyes, while a burka covers the entire body. The traditional hijab remains permitted because it leaves the face uncovered.
Prime Minister Meloni defended the face-covering ban as a matter of gender equality. “People go to school with uncovered faces and in Italy no one can, in the name of a real or alleged tradition, decide that a young woman should be forced to hide,” Meloni said, emphasizing that equality between men and women is unconditional.
Political Motivations and the Rise of National Future
Opposition lawmakers view the education reform as a political gesture designed to counter Roberto Vannacci’s newly formed, far-right party, National Future. Critics argue the coalition government implemented the school limits to protect its voter base ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.
Minister Valditara rejected claims that the legislation reacts to Vannacci’s political rise, stating that Vannacci is chasing the government rather than the reverse. Meanwhile, Vannacci expressed support for the new rules, arguing they should have been enacted years ago. Matteo Salvini, deputy prime minister and leader of the right-wing populist League party—on whose ticket Vannacci entered parliament—criticized Vannacci for repeatedly voting against government measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new student cap in Italian schools?
No more than 30 percent of students in any first-year primary or secondary classroom can lack Italian citizenship or possess insufficient knowledge of the Italian language.
Are all head coverings banned under the new law?
No. The law specifically bans the burka and niqab because they cover the face. The hijab remains allowed because it keeps the face visible.
Who is exempt from the primary school enrollment limits?
The primary school caps apply only to non-citizen children who were not born in Italy or have attended Italian schools for less than two years.
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