Italy approves new education reforms for foreign students

The Italian Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, approved a new legislative package on Thursday aimed at regulating the demographic composition of classrooms. The reform introduces a 30% cap on the number of students without Italian citizenship in specific classes. This threshold applies to primary school children born outside Italy or those who have not completed at least two years of kindergarten, as well as secondary school students who have not completed three years within the national educational system.

In instances where schools exceed this 30% limit, students will be redistributed to nearby institutions, taking proximity and family needs into account. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara stated that existing classes will not be dissolved. Additionally, the legislation enforces a ban on face-covering garments such as burqas and niqabs during school activities. Parents of students with poor academic performance may be required to attend Italian language courses, with fines established for non-compliance with the new rules.

The new regulations are scheduled to take effect from the next school year. Schools with high concentrations of foreign students will be eligible to request additional funding to implement specialized Italian language programs to facilitate integration.