The Italian government has approved new school rules banning burqas and piercings in classrooms and limiting the number of students with poor Italian language skills to 30% in a class.

The Italian government has approved new school rules banning burqas and piercings in classrooms and limiting the number of students with poor Italian language skills to 30% in a class.

Prime Minister Georgia Maloney said the measures were aimed at improving integration and preventing "ghetto classes".

The decree also allows fines of up to 1,000 euros for schools that do not meet the new limits. Hijab remains permissible.