# Italy bans burqa and niqab in schools

> Prime Minister Meloni's government approves a veil ban and caps foreign-language pupils in classrooms, framing both as integration measures.
- Title: Italy bans burqa and niqab in schools · BBC News | Shortify
- Summary: Prime Minister Meloni's government approves a veil ban and caps foreign-language pupils in classrooms, framing both as integration measures. Italy's…
- Keywords: italy, giorgia meloni, schools, burqa ban, niqab ban, language policy, futuro nazionale, education, news, world, bans, burqa
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw99d8g48873o
- Published: 2026-09-24T19:32:59.086+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: italy, giorgia meloni, schools, burqa ban, niqab ban, language policy, futuro nazionale, education, news, world
## Italy approves school veil ban
The Italian government has approved a ban on the burqa and niqab in schools, along with a limit on pupils who speak little Italian in any one class.
## Thirty percent cap on language learners
A thirty percent cap will be imposed on children without Italian citizenship or poor knowledge of Italian language in the first year of primary, middle and high school.
## Meloni frames measures as integration
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate. She said no-one could decide that a young woman should hide herself in the name of tradition.

> You must go to school with your face uncovered
## Education minister defends the policy
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the language limit is purely linguistic rather than one of citizenship, and framed the veil ban as a matter of gender equality to avoid ghetto classes.
## Opposition accuses government of pandering
Opposition parties accuse the government of pandering to hard-right Futuro Nazionale party policies ahead of a general election next year. The Democratic Party called the plan propaganda and impossible to implement.
## Decree takes effect immediately
The measure is a decree law, meaning it can take effect immediately, but must be ratified by parliament within sixty days. Italy already had guidance on Italian language at schools from a two thousand ten ministerial notice.
## Key takeaway

Italy's government banned the burqa and niqab in schools and capped non-Italian-speaking pupils at thirty percent per class, citing integration and gender equality.