Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on 20 September plans to introduce legislation capping the number of foreign students in individual classrooms and banning burqas and niqabs in schools. The proposed measures are framed as fostering integration and preserving Italian cultural identity, with Meloni arguing that concentrations of non-native speakers negatively impact the learning environment for all pupils and that Italian children should not feel marginalised in their own classrooms.

The package includes mandatory Italian-language lessons for parents of foreign pupils struggling to integrate, though Meloni did not specify exact numerical caps for classrooms. Non-Italian citizens currently account for approximately 11.6% of Italy's school enrolment nationwide. The legislation would permit other Islamic dress such as hijabs whilst explicitly prohibiting face-covering garments. Similar face-covering bans have been implemented in France and Belgium. The proposed legislation will be considered by Italy's Council of Ministers before being sent to Parliament for consideration.