4 hrs ago
Meloni Proposes Foreign-Student Caps and School Face-Covering Ban
Italy’s government is preparing new school rules.
The rules would limit how many foreign students can be in one class.
Some parents could also be required to learn Italian if their children have serious trouble joining the school system.
Meloni said schools would ban burqas and niqabs.
Some reports used broader words such as veils or hijabs, but her quoted statement specifically named burqas and niqabs.
Italy already has a 30% limit, although the rules allow exceptions.
Meloni said students who do not understand Italian need support to learn and fit into school.
She also said young women should attend school with their faces uncovered.
The proposal is expected to go to a Cabinet meeting, but no new maximum was specified.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy will propose a legal maximum for foreign students per class.
The proposal would require some parents of foreign students to learn Italian when integration difficulties are serious.
Meloni said schools would ban burqas and niqabs; some headlines described the measure more broadly as a hijab or veil ban.
Italy already has a 30% legal limit on foreign students in classes and school enrollment, with exceptions based on language ability.
Non-Italian citizens make up 11.6% of students enrolled in Italian schools, according to Fondazione ISMU.
- Who
- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Italian government.
- What
- Italy is preparing rules to limit foreign students per class, require Italian lessons for some parents, and prohibit specified face coverings in schools.
- Where
- Italian schools; the announcement was made at Fenix, a youth festival organized by the youth wing of Brothers of Italy.
- When
- Meloni announced the proposal on Sunday and said it would soon be presented to a Cabinet meeting.
- Why
- Meloni said the measures would support Italian-language learning and integration and ensure that students attend school with their faces uncovered.
Key facts
- Foreign-student share
- Students who are not Italian citizens account for 11.6% of enrollment, according to Fondazione ISMU.
- Existing limit
- Since 2010, Italian law has limited foreign students to 30% of a class and a school’s enrollment.
- Existing-limit exceptions
- The limit can be raised for students with adequate language skills and lowered when students have poor Italian proficiency.
- Proposed class cap
- Meloni said a measure would establish a maximum number of foreign students per class but did not specify the number or explain how it would change the existing limit.
- Language requirement
- Parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the school system would be required to learn Italian.
- Face-covering proposal
- Meloni specifically said schools would ban burqas and niqabs; some headlines characterized the proposal as a broader hijab or veil ban.
- Next step
- The proposal is expected to be presented to an Italian Cabinet meeting.
Quotes
Giorgia Meloni
Italy’s prime minister
“If there is only one child in a class who doesn't understand Italian, that child will likely be able to learn the language and integrate quickly with the help of classmates and teachers. However, if the number of children who don't understand the language becomes large - or even the majority - that is no longer integration; it is neglect.”
CNBC TV 18
telegraphindia.com
“A measure will soon be presented to a Cabinet meeting to legally establish a maximum number of foreign students per class. It also requires parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the school system to learn Italian and bans burqas and niqabs in schools.”
CNBC TV 18
wionews.com
deccanchronicle.com
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Italy to ban veils in schools, limit foreign students per class, Meloni says
Italy to ban burqa and hijab in schools, limit foreign students per class: PM Giorgia Meloni
Italy To Ban Burqas and Niqabs in Schools, Limit Foreign Students Per Class
Giorgia Meloni plans foreign student cap, Italian lessons and face-covering ban in schools
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