A Rome school has been hailed as a
model of integration after cutting its ratio of foreign to
Italian pupils from 95% 15 years ago to 50% today.
The Carlo Pisacane school in the heart of the multi-ethnic
quarter of Tor Pignattara, "is a virtuous example, so much so
that now Italian families are queuing up to enroll their kids
here," said head teacher Rosanna Labalestra.
She said a 20% cap on immigrant children, or the children of
immigrants, as advocated by rightwing League party leader Matteo
Salvini, would be "impossible to implement here" and would mean
that many parents would be forced to take their kids to other
schools.
Salvini called for the cap after a school near Milan where 40%
of the pupils are Muslim said it would give all its kids,
including the Italian ones, the day off for Eid on April 10,
when Muslims celebrate the fast-breaking after the holy month of
Ramadan.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara on Thursday said the
government would take measures, which he did not outline, to
make sure there were majority Italian students in all Italian
classrooms.
He also rejected multiculturalism and urged assimilation saying
native and immigrant communities cannot live separately.
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