A Classroom Cap in Rome, and Umbria Counts Its Pupils

The Italian cabinet adopted a decree law on Thursday banning burqas and niqabs in schools and capping the number of pupils with a poor command of Italian in each class, according to the BBC and Deutsche Welle. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as "common-sense tools that do not divide but really help to integrate", the BBC reported.

The Guardian reported that critics accuse the government of "running scared" and of ramping up divisive rhetoric to court far-right voters ahead of next year's general election. The New York Times wrote that Meloni said the goal was better integration, while critics accused her of trying to appease anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Local Italy confirmed the cabinet adopted the decree on Thursday, covering both the face-covering ban and the per-class limit on students with a poor command of Italian. The measures now move through the parliamentary process, where a decree must be converted into law within a set period or lapse.