Italy bans full-face coverings, including burqas, niqabs, in schools

The Italian government on Thursday approved a ban on full-face coverings, including burqas and niqabs, in schools. The measure will also limit the number of foreign pupils in each class. Classes will have a 30% cap on the participation rates of students with only limited knowledge of the Italian language, according to Italy’s Council of Ministers. The rules will go into effect for new students at the start of the 2027 school year. Parents could be fined up to roughly $1,100 for not complying. Additionally, the ban on veils will only apply to burqas and niqabs, but not hijabs, as they leave the face visible.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lauded the measures as commonsense tools that help integrate classrooms. It will provide students with equal opportunities and ensure everyone starts on the same footing, she said. She previously said the rules were aimed at ensuring all who come to Italy learn the country’s language and respect its rules, according to The Associated Press.

What has the opposition said?

• The political party Partito Democratico said the rules put unnecessary burdens on teachers and school administrations. If children exceed the 30% cap, they will be moved abruptly to nearby schools, severely disrupting their lives and friendships, the party argued.

• Another political party, Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, said the regulations don’t address the real problems at schools. Educational organizations in Italy need higher salaries for teachers, more affordable textbooks, and better buildings, it said.

• Italy’s national association of school principals said the rules were valid from an educational point of view, but difficult to carry out in practice.

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