The Italian government has approved a ban on burqa and niqab veils in schools and introduced a 30% cap on pupils without Italian citizenship or limited Italian language skills in any single class. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni framed the measures as integration tools promoting gender equality, but opposition parties accuse the government of pandering to hard-right political pressure from the Futuro Nazionale party ahead of next year's general election.

Non-Italian citizens currently represent 11.6% of Italy's school population. The language cap applies differently across education levels: in primary schools it covers non-Italian citizens not born in Italy or without two years of nursery schooling, whilst in secondary schools it affects those without Italian citizenship who haven't completed three years in the Italian system. Schools would be required to distribute pupils with limited Italian more evenly across nearby institutions, with exemptions and extra Italian teaching available where necessary. The measure takes immediate effect as a decree law but requires parliamentary ratification within 60 days. Italy had informal 30% guidance since 2010, which this law formalises, whilst the veil ban specifically targets burqa and niqab (not hijab).