The Italian Ministry of Education will no longer allow the use of gender-neutral symbols such as star signs and the “schwa” character in schools. According to reports in the Italian media, the Ministry of Education banned the use of symbols that do not differentiate based on gender, like the star sign and the “schwa” character, in schools on March 21st. The directive, signed by the Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara from the conservative coalition government led by Giorgia Meloni, aims to prevent the recent trend of using gender-neutral language in schools. The decision was reportedly made following incidents where school officials opted to write “bambin” instead of “bambino” for boys or “bambina” for girls to encompass both genders, as well as using the “schwa” symbol. The directive aims to resist the recent push towards incorporating gender-neutral approaches into the Italian language and writing rules. Fabio Rampelli, a member of Meloni’s party Brothers of Italy (FdI), supported the Ministry of Education’s decision, emphasizing the importance of preserving the Italian language. Matteo Salvini, the leader of the coalition partner the League Party and Deputy Prime Minister, expressed his approval of the directive. Meanwhile, Irene Manzi, responsible for education affairs in the main opposition center-left Democratic Party (PD), criticized the directive as a distracting measure for the masses, cautioning against the use of star signs and the “schwa” character in schools. Additionally, the conservative Catholic group “Pro Vita,” known for advocating for traditional family values, welcomed the ministry’s directive.