[REVISION HISTORY]

Italy implements school quotas and face covering bans

Updated 16 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-04 13:30 UTC → 2026-10-04 23:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Italian government has moved forward with educational reforms through a decree-law regulating classroom composition and face coverings. The decree establishes a 30% cap on non-Italian speaking students in first-year primary and secondary classes, effective from the 2027/2028 school year. This limit is based on Italian language proficiency rather than citizenship; students fluent in Italian, including non-EU citizens, are excluded. The measure applies to new arrivals but will not affect classes already formed for the 2026/2027 period. Exemptions exist for students with prior schooling or specific family and proximity needs. To support this transition, the government has allocated 3.4 million euros for 2027 and 14.1 million euros annually starting in 2028 to fund linguistic enhancement courses. Under Decree Law 170/2026, social services will develop personalized support projects for parents of foreign nationals, including free Italian language literacy paths at Provincial Centers for Adult Education (CPIA) to help them reach at least an A2 proficiency level. The decree also mandates the ban on face coverings that prevent facial recognition during school activities. On October 3, 2026, the Council of Ministers approved Decree Law no. 170, which includes provisions for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the integration of foreign students. The Senate Culture Commission is scheduled to examine the conversion of the decree into law on October 7, with a final approval deadline at the Chamber of Deputies set for November 29. The reforms have intensified concerns regarding a broader education crisis. ~~Critics argue the new policies, alongside low teacher salaries and increased bureaucratic burdens, threaten the quality~~ The National Coordination of ~~instruction~~ Teachers of Human Rights (CNDDU) has argued against generic numerical caps, suggesting resources should be allocated based on linguistic complexity rather than nationality. Critics and ~~the school’s role in fostering inclusive citizenship. While the government frames~~ political opposition have labeled the ~~quotas~~ measure as xenophobic, arguing it addresses a ~~tool for linguistic integration, opposition leaders question whether the regulations uphold the constitutional principle that ‘school is open to all.’~~ ‘non-existent emergency’ while ignoring systemic issues like teacher shortages and crumbling infrastructure.

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