Italian Prime Minister Proposes New Education Legislation

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to introduce legislation to limit the presence of foreign students in classrooms and prohibit certain face-covering garments in schools. The announcement came on September 20, with the aim of fostering integration and preserving Italian cultural identity.

During a speech in Rome to Gioventù Nazionale, the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party, Meloni stated, “There’s no way that in an Italian classroom, the ones who feel marginalized are Italian children because they have become a minority.” She emphasized the importance of ensuring that native children do not feel sidelined.

Students without Italian citizenship make up about 11.6% of school enrollment, according to Italy’s Education Ministry, as reported by the ISMU ETS Foundation.

The proposed cap on non-Italian students is intended to avoid heavy concentrations in certain districts, although the exact limit has not been specified. Additionally, parents of foreign students struggling with integration would be required to attend Italian-language lessons. Meloni stressed that understanding Italian culture and language is essential for those seeking to build their future in the country.

The proposed legislation also targets religious face coverings in schools, explicitly banning burqas and niqabs while permitting other forms of Islamic dress such as the hijab.

The Brothers of Italy party reinforced this stance, stating, “Those who choose to build their future in Italy must learn our language, know our culture, and respect our rules.” Another statement added that integration is achieved through knowledge of the language and respect for cultural identity.

Similar bans on face-coverings exist in some European countries, including France and Belgium, though enforcement varies. The proposed Italian legislation will first go to the Council of Ministers before potentially moving to Parliament.

Giorgia Meloni, who has led the Brothers of Italy since 2014 and governed since 2022, continues to be an influential figure in European politics, with her administration becoming the longest-serving uninterrupted government in modern Italian history.