Government Announces 30% Cap for Students Without Italian in Schools

The Italian government announced on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) its intention to limit the participation of students who do not adequately know Italian to 30% per class in public schools, through a decree-law for immediate intervention, according to a report by ANSA.

What the government announced

The Minister of Education, Giuseppe Valditara, stated that the measure will be adopted by decree-law to allow a rapid intervention already in this school year, as reported by ANSA. Valditara said the rule will apply to the new arrivals and assured that he does not intend to “disrupt” existing classes, aiming for an application that preserves the organization of the groups.

“It will be a decree‑law to intervene immediately,” Valditara said, according to ANSA.

Content and criteria of the rule

According to ANSA's reporting, the decree-law text will establish a 30% cap per class for students who do not demonstrate adequate proficiency in the Italian language. The declared criterion is linguistic, not based solely on citizenship: the assessment will consider language competence.

• The focus will be on the ability to understand and express in Italian, not limited to checking whether the student has Italian citizenship.
• Students who already attended Italian kindergarten or who have accumulated sufficient years in the Italian school system will be excluded from the calculation, criteria that serve as proof of exposure and language proficiency.

The agency notes that the intention is for the rule to operate on the basis of objective assessments of linguistic competence, although the exact format of tests or verification instruments remains to be defined in the decree text.

Scope and justification

Valditara emphasized the idea that language is central to integration and justified the cap as a measure to avoid the formation of “class ghettos.” According to ANSA, the minister compared segregated past situations, referring to the risk of reproducing scenarios similar to the 1950s Alabama, and stated that anyone challenging the measure would be deceiving public opinion.

The rule, again according to ANSA, will also cover students from European Union countries who do not speak Italian, as the criterion is functional — language proficiency — regardless of citizenship. Valditara also denied any confrontation with the Quirinale, saying the President Sergio Mattarella’s words had been instrumentalized by some political actors.

Repercussions and points to clarify

ANSA notes that using the decree-law instrument aims to allow immediate execution, but leaves open operational details that will need to be specified in the normative text and in school and regional implementation rules. Publicly clarifications needed include:

• How proficiency in Italian will be measured and certified for the cap.
• Whether there will be standardized nationwide instruments or guidance to schools and local education authorities.
• How the transition for already-formed classes will be managed and the role of school administrations in reorganizing.

Relevance for Brazilians and descendants

The measure could affect Brazilians who immigrate or return to Italy and their children, especially when there is not sufficient Italian proficiency. According to ANSA, students born in Brazil or descendants of Italians who do not demonstrate adequate language mastery may be counted toward the 30% cap, unless they prove they attended Italian preschool or accumulated years in the Italian school system.

For Brazilians seeking information about citizenship and life in Italy, the change underscores the importance of evaluating your children’s educational trajectory and language proficiency before moving, topics also covered in pages like Cittadinanza Italiana and Vita in Italia. The news also fits into the broader context of Notizie dall'Italia, which reports government measures affecting everyday life for immigrants.

Political context and next legislative steps

According to ANSA, the government chose the decree-law for urgency; the text will be presented to Parliament, where it may be converted into law or subjected to changes. The proposal is controversial because it touches on sensitive issues such as integration, education, and equal access to schooling, and is expected to spark debate with political parties, parent associations, and immigrant-rights organizations.

Experts and local actors are also expected to monitor the development of linguistic assessment mechanisms and assurances that the measure will not translate into administrative barriers that hinder the right to education.

Conclusion The 30% cap for students without adequate Italian proficiency, implemented via decree-law, marks a clear shift in the government’s announced educational policy, with direct impact on immigrant and returning communities. The next step is to see how the final text will regulate language proficiency identification and practical application in Italian schools.

Source: ANSA