Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni is making major and stringent changes to school regulations. The government is preparing to introduce a new law soon. Under this law, wearing a burqa or niqab (veil) covering the entire face in schools will be completely prohibited.
Meloni clearly states that no student should have their face covered in class. Schools cannot allow the concealment of the face in the name of religion or tradition. Meloni made these remarks at the annual gathering of the youth wing of her party, “Brothers of Italy.” There has long been a debate in Italy about immigrants’ language skills and integration into local society. Meloni’s announcement is considered significant.
The issue in Italy is not limited to the ban on the niqab alone. The Meloni government is also planning to set a quota for international students in each class. In some cases, it may also be mandatory for parents of foreign children to learn Italian. However, these measures have not yet been enacted into law. The number of international students per class is yet to be determined. The full contours of these new rules will only become clear after Cabinet approval.
Why is a quota for international students being established in a class?
Explaining the logic behind this, Prime Minister Meloni said that if only one child in a class does not know Italian, they can quickly learn it with the help of the other students and teachers.
However, if the number of such children increases or they become a majority in the class, it becomes very difficult for them to learn the local language and adapt to the environment. This is why the government wants to set a limit on the number of international students in each class.
There will be no ban on the hijab.
The proposal only calls for a ban on clothing that covers the entire face, such as the burqa and niqab. The hijab will not be banned, as it covers only the head and hair, leaving the face uncovered. Meloni emphasised the importance of keeping the face uncovered in schools. The government aims to create a uniform system in schools regarding language, identity, and social interaction. According to Reuters, approximately 11.6 percent of students in Italian schools are foreign nationals.
The issue of the veil is already simmering across Europe.
Italy is not the first country to ban face coverings. Many European countries already have strict regulations on face-covering clothing. Countries like France and Austria prohibit full-face coverings in public, while others have limited their use to schools, hospitals, and government offices.
Currently, this proposal is to be presented to the Italian cabinet. Only after receiving the green light will it be clear what the legal limits on international students will be and how the veiling rule will be enforced in schools.
