Italy approves school ban on face veils and limits non-native Italian pupils

The Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has approved sweeping school reforms, including a prohibition on face-covering veils such as the burqa and niqab in educational institutions. Under the new regulations, the government will also impose a 30% cap on students who lack Italian citizenship or demonstrate insufficient proficiency in the Italian language within a single classroom. This quota will apply to the entering years of primary, middle, and high schools starting from the 2027/28 academic year. Meloni characterized the policy adjustments as "common-sense".

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, ORF