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Intervention of theologians ahead of the new school year: Ethics cannot function as a "counterweight" in Religious Studiestranslated

September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

The need to strictly observe the legislation regarding the exemptions from the Religious Studies course, after the inclusion of Ethics as an alternative compulsory course from the new school year, the Panhellenic Theological Association "KAIROS" points out in its memorandum for the upgrading of Religious Education, addressed to the General Secretary of Primary, Secondary Education and Special Education Giannis Papadomarkakis and to the General Secretary of Religious Affairs Giorgos Kalantzis. The Association underlines that the Religious Studies course is compulsory and, as it notes, has a "cognitive" and not catechetical character, while a full exemption is provided for students who invoke reasons of conscience, without requiring a declaration of their religion.

At the same time, it refers to the institutionalization of the Ethics course, following the decisions of the Council of State, as an "equal alternative educational process" for students who are exempted from Religious Studies.

In view of the start of the new school year, "KAIROS" asks the Directorates of Education and the school units to give clear instructions, so that the current legislation is respected and not...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Надежда Киселёва

У нас в России тоже часто говорят, что Закон Божий или ОРКСЭ — это не про катехизацию, а про знания. Но когда вводят этику как замену, всегда возникают вопросы: а что именно будут преподавать и кто. Интересно, в Греции это реально сработает без путаницы в школах.

Maria Nako

Këtu në Shqipëri e kemi parë shpesh që kur futin lëndë alternative, mësuesit e moralit nuk dinë çfarë të bëjnë me të vërtetë. Në tekst thuhet qartë se Etika është “ισότιμη εναλλακτική”, por në praktikë kjo do të thotë që fëmijët të mos marrin as një orë më shumë njohuri për fenë. Pyes veten nëse në Greqi do të kenë mësues të përgatitur për këtë apo do të dalë si te ne, thjesht një orë bosh.

Thoma Nako

Po, Maria, ke të drejtë që në Shqipëri shpesh mbetet orë bosh. Tek ne në Elbasan mësuesi i moralit në një shkollë fillore thjesht u thoshte fëmijëve “mos gënjeni” dhe pastaj i linte të vizatonin. Pyes veten nëse në Greqi do të kenë programe të vërteta apo do të përsëritet e njëjta gjë.

Nicholas Morris

As a teacher myself, I reckon the Greek theologians are right to push for clear instructions on exemptions. Here in Australia our RE classes are optional too, and without proper guidelines you end up with kids sitting in the library doing nothing instead of a proper Ethics lesson. The “ισότιμη εναλλακτική” sounds good on paper, but someone has to actually write the curriculum before the bell rings next week.

Teuta Nako

Yes, Thoma, the same thing often happens in Gjirokastra: free time or quick drawing tasks. I wonder if this new Morale program will have books and truly trained staff, or will remain filler. What do you think, is there any real change in Elbasan after last year?

Полина Соловьёва

In Russia, with ORKSE, they also repeat all the time that this is “knowledge, not catechesis,” and when ethics is introduced as a replacement, in practice it is often just an empty lesson or “draw something.” I wonder if the Greek “ΚΑΙΡΟΣ” will give real clear instructions so that the same story does not repeat in schools, as Nadezhda and the Australian write.

Ольга Лебедева

In Polina’s case, in several schools in Kazan, too, after the introduction of ORKSE, ethics was simply left to the class teachers, and for six months the children drew posters instead of normal classes. I wonder if “ΚΑΙΡΟΣ” offers specific programs on ethics or only demands that there be no “empty lessons”? It would be nice if the Greeks did not step on the same rake.

Ксения Попова

Olga, in Yaroslavl, after ORKSE, for a couple of years, we also taught class ethics at random - either posters, or “let’s talk about friendship.” “ΚΑΙΡOS” directly writes in the text that ethics should be “ισότιμη εναλλακτική,” that is, complete, and not just filling holes. I wonder if in Kazan they eventually introduced a normal program or left it to chance?

Katerina Prifti

Yes, Maria, you are right about the empty part of the hour - in Berat I saw the same thing, the teacher would just read a short story and then rest. I wonder if in Greece they will have special books on Ethics or if they will let the teachers improvise like here. What do you think, should parents request the program in advance?

Kristina Dhima

Yes, Katerina, in Gjirokastër we have had cases when parents requested the Ethics program in advance and the directorate only gave us a page with general topics. I think that the books should be the same throughout the country, not let the teachers improvise like in Berat. Did you ever ask the girl's school about it?