Giorgia Meloni Plans Limiting Foreign Students and Burqa and Niqab Ban in Schools

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to limit foreign student numbers in classrooms and ban burqas and niqabs in schools. The government also plans mandatory Italian lessons for some foreign pupils’ parents.

Meloni announced the proposed measures on September 20, 2026, during a speech at Fenix in Rome. The event was organized by Gioventù Nazionale, the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party.

She said the government will bring a measure to the Council of Ministers. The proposal would set a legal maximum for foreign students in individual classrooms. Meloni did not give a new figure in her announcement. Italian media reported that the government is considering a limit of around 30%.

“There’s no way that in an Italian classroom, the ones who feel marginalized are Italian children because they have become a minority,” Meloni said.

Italy already has a 30% limit under existing rules in certain circumstances. The proposed legislation would address the limit through a new legal framework.

Burqa And Niqab Ban Proposed

Meloni also announced plans to prohibit burqas and niqabs (that cover the face) in educational institutions. It does not target the hijab.

Meloni said students should attend school with their faces uncovered. She linked the measure to integration and gender equality.

“At school, you go with your face uncovered, and in Italy no one, in the name of a real or presumed tradition, can decide that a young woman has to hide. Equality between men and women is non-negotiable,” Meloni said.

The proposed package would also require parents of foreign students facing serious integration difficulties to learn Italian. Meloni said people who come to Italy to build their future should learn the language, understand Italian culture and respect Italian rules.

Foreign Students Make Up 11.6% Of Enrollment

Students without Italian citizenship account for about 11.6% of Italy’s school enrollment, according to data from Italy’s Education Ministry cited by the ISMU Foundation.

The proposed measures still need to pass through the Italian legislative process. After government approval, the measures would require parliamentary approval to become law.