by Nastassja Martin
Italy’s government is preparing legislation that would introduce a legal limit on the number of foreign students in each classroom and ban the burqa and niqab in schools, proposals that have prompted debate over education, integration and constitutional rights.
The measures are expected to be discussed by the Council of Ministers in the coming weeks.
What the proposal includes
The draft legislation would replace Italy’s current 30% guideline on foreign students per class with a legally binding limit. The existing rule, introduced in 2010, is not mandatory and is often exceeded because schools can receive exemptions.
The proposal would also prohibit the wearing of the burqa and niqab — full-body and face-covering veils worn by a small minority of Muslim women — inside schools. In addition, parents of foreign students experiencing serious integration difficulties could be required to learn Italian.
Government officials say the measures are intended to promote language learning and improve classroom integration.
A wider political debate
The announcement follows months of discussion over school integration policies, including similar proposals put forward by Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara.
Opposition leaders argue that schools should remain inclusive spaces for all children, regardless of their background. Some constitutional law experts have also questioned whether stricter limits on enrollment could conflict with Article 34of Italy’s Constitution, which guarantees access to education for all children.
Teaching unions, which previously opposed similar proposals, are expected to challenge the legislation once its final text is presented.
The government has not yet announced when the bill will be formally approved or debated in Parliament.
