Italy caps number of foreign pupils
The Meloni government has approved a decree introducing a 30 per cent limit in new school classes from 2027.
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The Italian government has approved a decree limiting the share of foreign pupils in new classes to 30 per cent. The package also includes a ban on the burqa and niqab at school, with fines of up to €1,000 according to the draft text.
The Italian Council of Ministers approved the education decree on Thursday. The measure is due to apply from the 2027-2028 school year when forming new classes in primary education and the first years of secondary education. The government says the distribution should promote integration and prevent schools from having classes in which many pupils still have an insufficient command of Italian.
The criterion is not simply the country a pupil comes from. According to the published text, in primary education it concerns children without Italian nationality who were not born in Italy or who have not attended at least two years of nursery education there. In secondary education, a similar exception applies to pupils who have already successfully attended school in Italy for at least three academic years.
A limit of 30 per cent is specified for each new class. If schools cannot meet that limit independently, pupils must, according to the explanatory notes, be distributed among other classes or schools. This makes practical implementation particularly difficult in neighbourhoods where many children come from families with a migration background and schools are legally required to enrol children from the local area.
The decree also bans wearing clothing that fully covers the face during educational activities and activities involving school and family. The draft text lists fines of between €200 and €1,000. The ban concerns the burqa and niqab; the hijab, which leaves the face visible, is not mentioned in reporting on the decree.
The government links the measure to greater attention to Italian. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says pupils can integrate better if they are not placed together in large numbers. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said, according to ANSA, that around 34,000 classes currently exceed the 30 per cent limit, although not every foreign pupil is a newcomer or has weak language skills.
The plans were already controversial before approval. An Italian association of school leaders warned that schools cannot simply refuse children from their own neighbourhoods. Opposition parties call the proposal political posturing and point to other problems, such as inadequate school buildings and limited resources. There has also been a guideline concerning the share of foreign pupils for some time, but critics doubt whether a statutory limit will solve the practical problems.
The decree has now been adopted by the government, but its precise implementation may still change during parliamentary consideration. In particular, the rules on exceptions, distributing pupils and enforcing the clothing ban will determine how much effect the measure has in practice. The government presents the package as integration policy; opponents see mainly a restriction that could send children to other schools.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The Italian Council of Ministers has approved the decree.
- The measure includes a 30 per cent limit for certain foreign pupils in new classes.
- The package also includes a ban on the burqa and niqab at school.
- The precise implementation and parliamentary consideration have not yet been completed.
Left
Arguments A nationality or origin-based limit can stigmatise children and may lead to pupils being divided rather than receiving better support. The priority should be additional language lessons, smaller classes and sufficient resources for all schools.
Values Equal access, inclusion, non-discrimination and public investment.
Consequences The measure could reinforce segregation and force families to travel to schools outside their neighbourhood.
Centre
Arguments Language support and a balanced composition of classes can be legitimate educational aims, but the scheme must remain workable, proportionate and open to scrutiny. Exceptions and additional staff are more important than a percentage alone.
Values Quality of education, workability, equal opportunities and institutional diligence.
Consequences A well-designed scheme could reduce language gaps, but rigid application could overburden schools and families.
Right
Arguments The government may set clear integration rules and prevent schools from emerging in which pupils speak little Italian. From this perspective, a ceiling, language expectations for parents and a ban on covering the face are seen as conditions for a shared public culture.
Values National cohesion, language proficiency, public order and family responsibility.
Consequences Supporters say the measure could accelerate integration, but it requires enforcement and could increase conflicts over religious freedom and school choice.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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ANSA and LaPresse have confirmed the approval of the decree, the 30 per cent limit and the ban on covering the face. The text makes clear which implementation details are still based on a draft and which political reactions have been attributed to sources.
- confirmed On 24 September 2026, the Italian Council of Ministers approved a decree setting a 30 per cent limit for foreign pupils. — ANSA reports the approval and the 30 per cent limit. source
- confirmed The rules are due to apply from the 2027-2028 school year to new classes. — This is stated in the text of the draft decree published by LaPresse. source
- confirmed The ban concerns the burqa and niqab, and the draft text lists fines of up to €1,000. — ANSA and LaPresse both mention the ban and the maximum fine. source
- confirmed Around 34,000 classes exceed the 30 per cent limit. — ANSA attributes this figure to Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara. source
- confirmed An association of school leaders doubts whether the limit is practically workable. — ANSA quotes Antonello Giannelli of the national association of school leaders. source
Editor's note
The Council of Ministers has approved the decree. Details about exceptions, application from 2027-2028 and sanctions are based on the published draft text and may still change during parliamentary consideration.Sources
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