Rome: Italy is preparing a proposal to prohibit students from wearing the burqa and hijab in schools, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said at an event in the capital.
With a general election due next year, Meloni—seen as a right-wing leader—has been pushing a series of changes in areas including education and citizenship. The latest announcement is part of that broader agenda.
Meloni said the government also intends to set a legal upper limit on the number of foreign students in each classroom. She argued that people who wish to live in Italy should learn the language and respect the country’s laws.
She added that if many students in a class do not know the local language, others may end up feeling like a minority in their own classroom.
The plan is currently only a legislative proposal. It is expected to be submitted to the cabinet for approval, and if cleared, it must receive parliamentary approval within 60 days to become law.
