Schools’ religious classes need to change, says education minister

Education Minister Nikos Filis said that religion classes in schools have to change and be more like religious studies, allowing pupils to learn about other faiths, if they are to remain compulsory.

The country’s Education Policy Institute is already drafting a pilot program that will broaden the subject matter covered in the classes but the Church of Greece this week reaffirmed its reservations about pupils being taught about anything other than the Orthodox faith.

“We are in discussions with representatives of the Church,” said Filis. “It is obvious that making notable changes to the religion classes is a prerequisite for them remaining a compulsory part of pupils’ studies.”