Italy’s Council of Ministers approved a new school decree on Thursday that bans face coverings in schools and introduces a 30% limit for certain foreign pupils in first-year classes, national news agency ANSA reported.
The decree prohibits students from covering their faces during curricular and extracurricular activities. It also applies to school-family events when the covering prevents identification.
The rules include exceptions for specific health and security reasons.
Anyone who violates the face-covering rules could face an administrative fine of between €200 and €1,000. If a minor commits the violation, authorities would apply the penalty to the parent, according to the draft provisions.
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The government said the measures aim to support integration. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has described the policy as an effort to prevent what she calls “ghetto-like classrooms.”
30% cap on foreign pupils
The decree also sets a 30% ceiling for certain students without Italian citizenship in first-year classes.
In primary schools, the limit applies to pupils who were not born in Italy. It also covers children who have not attended at least two years of preschool.
For lower and upper secondary schools, the rule applies to students without Italian citizenship who have not successfully completed at least three school years in Italy’s national education system.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said around 34,000 classes currently have a foreign-student share above 30%.
Valditara said the government wants schools to place greater emphasis on Italian-language learning. He described language acquisition as an important tool for integration.
The decree also addresses cases involving serious and persistent language barriers within families.
Schools must report such cases to social services when the barriers hinder a child’s integration. Social services can then arrange Italian-language courses for parents.
Failure to comply with the language-related measures can also result in fines ranging from €200 to €1,000.
