The Italian government limits the proportion of foreign students in classes to 30% and bans face coverings in schools

Italy’s government adopted a decree on Thursday that, starting in the 2027–2028 school year, limits the number of certain foreign students in primary school classes and bans face coverings on school premises. The measures must be promulgated by President Sergio Mattarella to take effect.

The 30% limit applies to students who are not Italian citizens, were not born in Italy, or attended less than two years of kindergarten in the country. If the number of applications exceeds the cap, education authorities will be able to redistribute students to nearby schools, taking families’ needs and access to education into account.

The decree provides for fines of up to €1,000 for people who enter schools wearing clothing that covers their faces. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as necessary for integration and said students must be able to communicate in Italian and participate in school life with their faces uncovered. She also announced plans to introduce Italian-language courses for parents who do not speak the language.

Some school principals warned that enforcing the rules would be difficult in regions with large immigrant populations. The opposition accused the government of promoting a “culture war” and hiding the education system’s real problems.

Approximately 900,000 foreign students attend school in Italy, representing 11.6% of the total. According to the cited data, around 43% come from other European countries, while 32% have African origins.