Italy Introduces 30% Cap on Foreign Pupils and Bans Face Coverings in Schools Under New Meloni Decree

Italy's right-wing government has approved a new decree introducing a limit on the number of foreign pupils in classrooms and banning face coverings on school premises. The policy, passed on Thursday, is viewed by critics as an effort by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to counter the rising influence of a rival far-right party ahead of upcoming elections.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces political pressure from National Future, a party established in February by former army general Roberto Vannacci. With National Future polling at approximately 8 percent and Ms Meloni's coalition trailing the centre-left bloc, schools have emerged as a primary political battleground. National Future campaigns on “remigration” and argues that Islamic influence in classrooms undermines national identity.

Under the newly passed draft decree, a 30 per cent cap will take effect starting from the 2027-28 school year for primary school classrooms. This limit applies to students who are not Italian nationals, were not born in Italy, or have attended less than two years of nursery school in the country. Additionally, the legislation enforces fines of up to €1,000 ($1,137) for anyone wearing face coverings upon entering school premises.

Defending the policy on X, Ms Meloni stated that the measures are designed to promote genuine integration rather than division. She previously outlined these plans during a youth wing rally for her Brothers of Italy party, where she also noted that parents of children lacking Italian language proficiency will be mandated to attend language courses.

Implementation concerns have been raised by school principals, particularly in northern Italy, who warn that enforcing the 30 per cent cap will prove difficult in regions with dense immigrant populations. According to the draft, education authorities will be required to redistribute students to nearby schools if demand exceeds the limit, though practical guidelines remain undefined. President Sergio Mattarella has expressed caution regarding potential educational barriers as he prepares to review the decree.

Data from the ISMU Foundation indicates that roughly 900,000 foreign students currently study in Italian schools, making up 11.6 per cent of the total student population. Of those, 43 per cent originate from other European countries, while 32 per cent come from African backgrounds. Opposition figures, including Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, have strongly criticized the legislation, accusing Ms Meloni of prioritizing ideological conflicts over real educational challenges.