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New rules to limit the number of foreign pupils in Italian classrooms, introduced by Prime Minister Giorgia \u200bMeloni, are set to affect at most just a few hundred children \u200cnationwide, according to experts and a Reuters analysis of public data.<\/strong><\/p>\n Meloni\u2019s right-wing cabinet passed a decree last week setting a ceiling of 30% of foreign pupils per classroom and banning face \u200bcoverings at school, moves that critics said were an attempt to counter \u200bthe growing appeal of a rival far-right party National Future ahead \u2060of elections due next year.<\/p>\n The prime minister called the decree a common sense \u200bmeasure to support integration, \u201cavoid ghetto classes and give all students the same opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Costanzo \u200bRanci, head of the Social Policy Lab at Milan Polytechnic, told Reuters on Monday that the limit on foreign pupils would likely affect only around 300 children in the whole \u200bof Italy. He said the number would not exceed 1,000 and could even \u200bbe zero.<\/p>\n The government has not provided its own estimate of how many pupils will be affected.<\/p>\n Estimates \u200care \u2060approximate because the decree exempts foreign students born in Italy and those who have spent significant time in the Italian school system.<\/p>\n The total student population in Italy\u2019s state schools, excluding nurseries, is around 6.2 million, according to the most recent \u200beducation ministry data \u200bfor August 2025.<\/p>\n Around \u20602,600 schools, or 9% of the total, had more than 30% of foreign students in the 2024-2025 school year, according \u200bto a Reuters analysis of ministry data.<\/p>\n However, around 64.5% of \u200bthese foreign \u2060students are Italian-born and therefore not affected by the decree. Applying that national share uniformly across schools would leave only 10 state schools above the threshold.<\/p>\n \u201cMy feeling is \u2060that \u200bthe decree will not have a real impact \u200bon the day-to-day running of schools,\u201d Ranci said, adding that it would only apply to rather exceptional \u200bsituations.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n