Italy passes school rules banning face coverings and limiting non‑Italian‑speaking students

Italy’s government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has enacted new school regulations that will ban face coverings and set limits on the number of students who do not speak fluent Italian. The measures are intended to address concerns about integration and language proficiency in schools across the country.

Under the new rules, face coverings such as the burqa will no longer be permitted in educational settings, while schools will be required to cap enrollment of students lacking fluency in Italian. These provisions were approved by the government as part of a broader effort to standardize language requirements for pupils.

The legislation establishes a clear policy to restrict foreign pupils who are not fluent in Italian and prohibits the wearing of face coverings in schools.