Parents face fines for not learning Italian under new school decree
The Italy Ministry of Education has introduced a mandatory Italian language course for parents of children experiencing serious integration difficulties in school — with fines ranging from €200 to €1,000 for non-compliance. The measure, approved in the Council of Ministers’ decree on 24 September 2026, links parental language proficiency directly to a child’s academic progress and is part of a sweeping overhaul of Italy’s school integration policies.
Schools must report families where a student’s limited Italian is impeding classroom participation. Upon notification, local social services are required to offer a free Italian course through the Provincial Centres for Adult Education (CPIA). Parents must attend and attain at least an A2-level certification. Failure to complete the program without a legitimate medical or age-related exemption triggers administrative penalties.
Earlier drafts had suggested removing children from homes if parents refused to participate. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara confirmed this provision was dropped before finalization, calling it a "misleading leak" by political opponents. No child will be removed from their family as a consequence of this decree.
Class cap: 30% foreign students — with exceptions
Starting in the 2026/2027 school year, no more than 30% of pupils in any class may be non-Italian citizens without adequate Italian skills, as defined by their educational background. The cap applies to first-year primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary classes.
Children exempt from the count include those born in Italy or who have completed two full years of Italian preschool; and in secondary schools, those who have successfully completed at least three years of instruction in Italy’s system.
According to ministry data, currently 34,000 classes exceed this threshold, primarily in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Lazio — regions that together host 63% of Italy’s 848,000 foreign-born students. The policy is not meant to displace students, but to distribute them more evenly across nearby schools. In areas where no suitable alternative school exists within a reasonable distance, the 30% limit does not apply. Instead, an additional €17.5 million has been allocated for targeted Italian-language extracurricular support in those schools.
Burqa and niqab banned — fines for violation
As of September 2026, students may not attend school with faces covered by burqas, niqabs, or surgical masks unless medically certified. Violations result in fines of €200 to €1,000 — applied to parents if the student is a minor.
The government frames the ban as a matter of visibility, safety, and integration. "One goes to school with an uncovered face," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The directive applies uniformly, regardless of religious motivation.
Constitutional concerns and legal skepticism
Legal experts warn the decree may conflict with fundamental rights. Alfonso Celotto, constitutional law professor at Roma Tre University, highlighted potential breaches of Article 3 (equality) and Article 8 (religious freedom) of the Italian Constitution. He noted that requiring face exposure in classrooms may set a precedent with little precedent in Italian jurisprudence, particularly absent proof that the burqa/niiqab directly impedes learning.
The Constitutional Court has not yet ruled on the measures. However, its 2025 decision — invalidating a citizenship language requirement for those with documented learning disabilities — signals that mandatory language obligations must be proportionate to individual ability. That precedent could shape future challenges.
Opposition calls it "propaganda"; unions warn of chaos
The decree has sparked fierce backlash from educators and unions. The FLC CGIL trade union, Italy’s largest teaching union, called the policy "ideological theater," arguing it stigmatizes immigrant families and ignores systemic failures like low teacher pay and crumbling school infrastructure.
DirigentiScuola, the association of headteachers, warned that implementing the cap mid-year risks logistical chaos. "Schools are not immigration offices," said president Attilio Fratta. "We're being asked to run exclusionary enrollment processes without staff, space, or time."
Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein declared the decree a "shameful witch hunt," while M5S labeled it "unrealizable propaganda" that shifts blame away from the government’s failure to invest in education.
Hidden investments: funding for support and digital tools
Beyond the controversial clauses, the decree allocates significant funding:
• €21 million to raise the income threshold for free textbooks from €30,000 to €40,000 ISEE
• €70 million to expand tutor programs tackling student dropout
• €4 million annually for cyberbullying prevention (2026–2027)
• €1 million in 2026, rising to €13 million in 2027, to digitize administrative systems
• €14.1 million from 2028 onward to fund Italian-language activities beyond regular curriculum
Technical institutes will be renamed "technological lyceums"; professional institutes become "professional lyceums." The Individual Educational Plan (PEI) for students with disabilities will now only be revised when new needs emerge — not annually — reducing bureaucratic burden.
What this means for families
For parents: learning Italian will become a formal, enforceable part of your child’s education. But no one will be penalized if they are elderly, disabled, or ill. Support is offered free of charge — in theory.
For schools: managing integration just got more complex, with new rules, new paperwork, and new pressures — all while staffing levels remain strained.
For students: the goal is inclusion. But critics say the law may push vulnerable families away from schools, not toward them.
The government insists it’s about fairness. The courts, unions, and families now must decide whether the cost is worth the promise.
