Rome – In a move aimed at strengthening integration and preserving parental choice, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government issued a decree on Thursday that caps the proportion of students in any classroom who lack sufficient Italian language skills at 30 percent and bans full‑face Islamic veils in public schools.
Key provisions
The decree, which takes effect immediately but must be endorsed by parliament within 60 days, sets a clear upper limit on the share of foreign‑born pupils with limited Italian proficiency in each classroom. Schools that exceed the threshold will receive additional language‑learning funds and may be required to coordinate student placements to avoid concentration of non‑Italian‑speaking pupils.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara explained that the policy is designed to prevent “ghetto” classrooms and to give every child equal opportunity to learn. He noted that the measure would affect roughly 1,000 classrooms – about 0.3 percent of the nation’s total – primarily those with high concentrations of recent arrivals.
Support and rationale
Meloni posted on social media that the steps are “common‑sense measures that do not divide but help foster genuine integration, avoiding ‘ghetto’ classrooms and giving all students equal opportunities.” The government argues that limiting language barriers and prohibiting full‑face veils will promote a shared cultural foundation, support parental involvement, and uphold the nation’s constitutional commitment to secular education.
Supporters on the right praised the decree as a necessary correction to years of unchecked immigration‑driven enrollment patterns. They contend that the policy respects the rights of parents to raise their children in an environment where the national language and cultural values are taught consistently.
Critics and concerns
Opposition parties, several teachers’ unions, and some educators warned that the cap could force children to travel long distances to schools that meet the language quota, disrupting families and community ties. National Association of Principals president Antonello Giannelli said, “In districts where immigrants are the majority, there may be only one school, and sending young children kilometers away is impractical.”
Unions also questioned the adequacy of the €14 million funding package, arguing it falls short of covering the cost of hiring specialized language teachers and cultural mediators. They fear the decree could become a symbolic political issue rather than a practical solution.
Implementation details
Schools that cannot meet the cap may apply for exemptions and will receive targeted language‑support funding. The decree also requires parents of foreign students to attend Italian‑language courses when language barriers within families affect school performance. Failure to comply could result in fines ranging from €200 to €1,000, with exemptions for medical or disability‑related barriers.
According to the Education Ministry, foreign‑born students made up 11.2 % of Italy’s school population in the 2022‑23 academic year, while classrooms exceeding the 30 % threshold represented 7.6 % of all classes. Students born in Italy or who attended Italian preschool are exempt from the cap.
Broader context
Italy’s policy is narrower than similar restrictions in France, which banned full‑face veils in public spaces in 2011 and prohibits conspicuous religious symbols in public schools. Critics in Italy argue that full‑face veils are rarely seen in classrooms, making the ban largely symbolic.
Analysts note that the decree arrives as elections could be called as early as next spring, giving Meloni a chance to reaffirm her credentials on immigration and national identity with her conservative base. While the practical impact may be limited, the government frames the measures as a decisive step toward preserving Italy’s cultural cohesion and parental rights.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
