Italy Plans School Ban on Burqas and Niqabs
Italy is preparing measures to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced at a youth event organised by her Brothers of Italy party in Rome. The proposal is part of a wider package focused on immigration and integration ahead of next year’s general election.
The government also plans to legally establish a maximum number of foreign students allowed in each classroom. Meloni did not specify the proposed limit, but said the measure was intended to prevent language difficulties from affecting integration and education.
Under the proposal, parents of foreign students experiencing serious difficulties integrating into the school system could also be required to learn Italian. Meloni said students should be able to participate in school with their faces uncovered and communicate effectively with classmates and teachers.
Foreign citizens currently account for about 11.6 percent of students enrolled in Italian schools, according to Fondazione ISMU. The government has not yet provided a timetable or detailed enforcement rules for the proposed measures.
