Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Italy ministers agree to ban burqa and niqab in school and cap
foreigners in class
Italy’s right-wing coalition government is set to ban outer coverings
worn by some Muslim women at schools. It said it is common sense to show faces
at school, and also that the ban is a matter of gender equality. The burqa and niqab
are outer coverings worn by some Muslim females; the former covers the face and
body, and the latter covers the face. The government also intends to put a 30%
cap on children without Italian citizenship or poor knowledge of the Italian
language in the first year of school. Over 11% of Italy’s school students are
non-Italian citizens. The Prime Minister said these measures are not intended to
divide students but to help them integrate. Recently, in many European
countries, nationalist and populist parties are gaining momentum in local and
national elections. Immigration pressures from displacement by wars and
conflicts, rising housing prices and rents, and concerns about cultural and
national identities are said to be some of the factors behind this move. School
children of a different nationality, race, or faith have to study and develop
their identity in a different language, culture, and society. They may be learning
a lot to live in different or mixed societies.
Read the article and think about the challenges foreign students are
facing.
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