Italy has announced plans to ban face-covering veils in schools, including niqabs and burqas.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the proposed measure during a youth event organized by her party.

She said the government plans to bring the proposal before the Council of Ministers soon. The measure would require students to attend classes with their faces visible.

Meloni said the proposal is part of wider changes planned for Italian schools. These changes also include a limit on foreign students in individual classrooms.

The government has not yet specified the exact limit for foreign students. The proposal is expected to be formally presented before the Council of Ministers.

Meloni also announced plans involving parents of foreign students. Parents facing cases of serious integration difficulties would be required to learn Italian.

According to data reported by ANSA, foreign students account for 11.6% of Italy’s student population. The figure represents around 930,000 non-Italian students.

The government says language skills are important for integration within schools. The proposed measures would therefore focus on students and their families.

Meloni also addressed the issue of face coverings during her speech. She said schools should be places where students attend with their faces uncovered.

She argued that girls should not be required to hide their faces because of tradition. Her comments linked the proposal to the government’s position on equality between men and women.

The proposal follows earlier comments from Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara. He had previously supported a school ban on burqas and niqabs.

The government’s latest announcement has also prompted reactions from school leaders and political opponents. Some school leaders have raised concerns about implementing a foreign-student limit.

ANSA reported that school principals consider such a limit difficult to apply in practice. They noted that families generally attend schools located near their homes.

The proposed measure would therefore need to address how students are assigned to schools. Concerns have also been raised about access to education.

The government has not yet provided all details of the planned legislation. Further information is expected when the proposal reaches the Council of Ministers.

Italy is also considering other changes to its education system. Meloni said the government plans to use the term “liceo” for technical and vocational schools.

The latest proposals come as Italy continues discussions about migration and integration. Education has become an important part of that debate.

For now, the niqab and burqa restrictions remain a government proposal. The final legal text and implementation details have yet to be announced.

Meloni’s government announces these measures as part of its broader education policy plans. The proposals are expected to face further discussion before any new rules take effect.

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