European education reforms: Hungary plans new strategy as Italy proposes student quotas

In Hungary, the Minister of Education and Youth, Judit Lannert, met with parliamentary group representatives to discuss ongoing work and planned changes within the education sector. The discussions focused on gathering regional feedback and experiences to ensure that future developments respond to actual local needs. Lannert announced that a new national education strategy is expected by the end of the year, alongside the development of a new National Core Curriculum, which will undergo testing before full implementation.

In Italy, the Council of Ministers has approved a draft decree regarding education aimed at ensuring a smooth start to the 2026/2027 school year. The decree includes controversial measures, such as a ban on wearing face coverings, including burkas and niqabs, in school activities unless there are specific health or security reasons. Additionally, the proposal seeks to limit the composition of classrooms by capping the number of non-Italian students in first-grade classes at 30 percent for those who were not born in Italy and have not attended local kindergarten for at least two years.