The Italian Ministry of Education has decided to no longer allow gender-neutral symbols like stars and the “schwa” character in schools. According to reports in the Italian press, the Ministry of Education has banned the use of gender-neutral symbols such as the star symbol and the “schwa” character in schools, claiming to be more inclusive in terms of gender. The directive containing this decision was signed by Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara, a member of the right-wing coalition government led by Giorgia Meloni, who defines himself as a defender of traditional values. The decision is said to have been taken in response to recent instances where some school officials used only “bambin” instead of “bambino” for boys and “bambina” for girls, as well as using the “schwa” symbol to represent both genders. The directive aims to counter recent efforts to integrate a “gender-neutral” approach, especially into Italian grammar and spelling rules. Fabio Rampelli, a member of Meloni’s party Brothers of Italy (FdI), defended the Ministry of Education’s decision, emphasizing the importance of preserving the Italian language. Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party and Deputy Prime Minister of the right-wing coalition, expressed his approval of the directive. On the other hand, Irene Manzi, responsible for education affairs from the center-left Democratic Party (PD), criticized the directive as a diversionary tactic. The conservative Catholic group “Pro Vita,” which advocates for life and family values, welcomed the Ministry’s directive.