Greece introduces Ethics curriculum for students exempt from Religious Studies

Greece is implementing a new Ethics curriculum in public schools, designed as an alternative for students who opt out of Religious Studies. The program will span from the 3rd grade of primary school through the 3rd grade of high school.

The Ministry of Education states that Religious Studies and Ethics are distinct subjects. While Orthodox Christian students attend Religious Studies, those who are not Orthodox or choose to be exempt will attend Ethics classes. The Institute of Educational Policy describes the goal of the Ethics course as fostering responsible, active, and democratic citizenship through the development of critical thinking, argumentation, dialogue, empathy, and justice.

Some academic commentary has raised questions regarding the pedagogical structure of the school system. Critics note a distinction between the scientific method used in subjects like biology and the metaphysical claims presented in religious education, suggesting that the school must clearly differentiate between teaching religious traditions as knowledge and presenting metaphysical claims as absolute truths.