Italy is preparing a major package of proposed school reforms that would ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools, introduce a limit on the number of foreign students in individual classrooms and require some parents to learn Italian.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the proposals on Sunday, September 20, 2026, during an event organised by Gioventù Nazionale, the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party.
Meloni said the measures would soon be presented to the Italian Cabinet as part of efforts to address what her government describes as challenges surrounding integration in the country’s education system.
The proposals have already generated debate because they touch on religious clothing, immigration and the composition of Italian classrooms.
Italy proposes burqa and niqab ban in schools
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One of the most prominent elements of the proposed package is a ban on full-face coverings, specifically burqas and niqabs, in Italian schools.
Meloni said students should attend school with their faces uncovered and argued that no one should be required to conceal their face in the name of tradition.
The proposal does not specifically mention the hijab, which covers the hair and neck but leaves the face visible.
The distinction is significant because the proposal is focused on garments that cover the face rather than ordinary Muslim headscarves.
Italy would join several European countries that already have restrictions on face-covering garments, although the scope and application of those rules differ from country to country.
Foreign students could face classroom limits
Another major part of the proposal would establish a legal maximum for the number of foreign students who can be placed in an individual classroom.
Meloni did not specify the exact number of foreign students that would be permitted in each class.
She argued that classrooms can face greater integration difficulties when a large proportion of pupils struggle to communicate in Italian.
“If there is only one child in a class who doesn’t understand Italian, that child will likely be able to learn the language and integrate quickly with the help of classmates and teachers,” Meloni said, according to Reuters.
She added that when the number of pupils who do not understand Italian becomes large, or even a majority, the situation should not be described as successful integration.
According to data cited by Reuters from Fondazione ISMU, students who are not Italian citizens account for about 11.6% of pupils enrolled in Italian schools.
Some parents could be required to learn Italian
The proposed measures would also introduce language requirements for some parents.
Meloni said parents of foreign students experiencing “serious difficulties integrating into the school system” could be required to learn Italian.
She argued that people who come to Italy and intend to build their future there should learn the Italian language, understand the country’s culture and respect its laws.
The proposal therefore links school integration not only to students but also to the involvement of their parents.
Meloni says Italian children should not become a minority
During her speech, Meloni also addressed concerns about the demographic composition of some classrooms.
She argued that Italian children should not find themselves feeling marginalised because they have become a minority in their own classrooms.
Her comments were delivered at a gathering of supporters of her Brothers of Italy party and formed part of a broader discussion about integration and migration.
Migration remains a major political issue in Italy, which has experienced significant arrivals through the central Mediterranean.
The government’s proposals are likely to fuel further debate over how schools should balance integration, religious expression and access to education.
Proposal still needs to become law
Despite the attention surrounding the announcement, the measures are not yet in force.
Meloni said the package would be presented to the Cabinet, after which the proposed legislation would still need to go through Italy’s parliamentary process.
The Associated Press reported that once approved by the government, the measure would require parliamentary approval within 60 days to become law.
That means the final provisions could still change during the legislative process.
The exact limit on foreign students per classroom has also not yet been announced.
Italy’s proposed reforms spark wider European debate
The announcement comes amid continuing European debate over religious clothing, migration and integration.
France and Belgium already have nationwide restrictions on face-covering garments in public spaces, while other European countries have adopted different restrictions in particular settings.
Italy’s proposed school rules would specifically target burqas and niqabs in educational institutions.
For now, the proposal remains at the government-planning stage.
If approved by the Cabinet and subsequently passed by Parliament, it could introduce significant changes to how Italian schools handle face coverings, foreign-student enrollment and language integration.
Reuters – Italy to ban veils in schools and limit foreign students per class
