Italy’s government has passed a decree to place an upper limit on the number of students in each school classroom who have only limited Italian language skills, and to ban face-covering Islamic veils in schools.
Premier Giorgia Meloni’s conservative government said the package is aimed at strengthening integration through language learning and has drawn support from right-wing allies.
Opponents including some educators, unions and opposition parties warn that new rules could force students to attend schools far from their neighbourhoods, while critics accuse the government of turning immigration into a political issue.
Oggi abbiamo approvato in Consiglio dei Ministri il decreto sulla scuola.
Un limite del 30% nelle classi per gli studenti che non conoscono adeguatamente l’italiano, più strumenti per imparare la nostra lingua e stop a burqa e niqab a scuola.
Strumenti di buonsenso che non… pic.twitter.com/JEbie74wYy
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 24, 2026
With elections possible as early as next spring, analysts say the measures allow the premier to reassert her credentials on issues central to her conservative base, even though their impact is likely to be limited and significant questions remain about how they would be enforced.
Under the plan, a limit of 30% of students lacking sufficient Italian proficiency would be allowed in any individual classroom.
The threshold would be based on language skills rather than citizenship and would also apply to students from other European Union countries who do not speak Italian.
The government decree goes into effect immediately but needs to be endorsed within 60 days in parliament, where Ms Meloni’s coalition commands a majority.
Ms Meloni wrote on social media that they are “common-sense measures that do not divide but help foster genuine integration, avoiding ‘ghetto’ classrooms and giving all students equal opportunities”.
The decree comes as Ms Meloni faces mounting pressure on her right flank from a new hard-line challenger, retired army general Roberto Vannacci, who has been seeking to capitalise on voter concerns over immigration and national identity.
