Italy’s government has moved forward with plans to ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools and limit the number of students who do not speak Italian adequately to 30 percent of a classroom.

The new rules, approved by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s cabinet on Thursday, could impose fines of up to €1,000, or about $1,140, for violations.

Meloni announced the measures on Sunday at a gathering of the youth wing of her nationalist-conservative Brothers of Italy party. The government says the changes are aimed at strengthening integration and improving Italian-language learning in schools.

Under the decree-law, wearing face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools would become illegal. Starting next year, classrooms would also be subject to a 30 percent limit on students who do not have an adequate command of Italian.

The decree-law can take effect immediately, but it must be approved by parliament within 60 days to remain in force. It also requires the approval of President Sergio Mattarella.

Mattarella has expressed concern this week about measures that could create barriers to education.

Meloni defended the government’s approach in a post on X, saying measures to help students learn Italian and to stop the use of burqas and niqabs in schools were a matter of “common sense” and would not create divisions.

She said the government wanted an education system that promotes integration while maintaining its rules, provides additional support to students who need it and gives everyone an equal opportunity to start from the same point.

The measures are part of the government’s broader policy on linguistic and cultural integration in Italian schools. However, the decree-law could still face further debate and amendments as it goes through parliament.