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Religions and schooling

Religious instruction

In a highly centralised system, training and recruitment of public school teachers, development of study programmes and the drawing up, printing and distribution of educational texts is (...)

In a highly centralised system, training and recruitment of public school teachers, development of study programmes and the drawing up, printing and distribution of educational texts is guaranteed mainly by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. Thus, religious instruction programmes and the drafting of religion course manuals are established by the Ministry in collaboration with the Educational Institute (consultative organism of the Ministry).
Religion is taught as such within the context of a compulsory religion class for all orthodox students in primary and secondary schools, both in the public and private sector. In primary school and during the first three years of secondary school (gymnasio) there are two hours of religious instruction per week and one hour per week during the remaining years of secondary school (lykeio).
Besides religion classes, religious instruction for students includes group prayer in the mornings at the school and participating at mass during religious celebrations.

D 19 September 2012    ALina Molokotos

The importance of Orthodoxy

The requirement of religious instruction is based on the connection which exists between the Orthodox standard in Greece (article 3 of the Constitution) and the national and religious (...)

The requirement of religious instruction is based on the connection which exists between the Orthodox standard in Greece (article 3 of the Constitution) and the national and religious consciousness of students (article 16 of the Constitution). According to article 16 of the Constitution “education constitutes a basic mission for the State and shall aim at the moral, intellectual, professional and physical training of Greeks, the development of national and religious consciousness and at their formation as free and responsible citizens”.
Law 1566/85 reinforces the Orthodox standard in Greek religious instruction by requiring the development of a typically Orthodox consciousness that is in line with the Church’s theology.
Religion classes on the whole remain largely influenced by the prevailing Orthodox religion. Religious instruction manuals give very limited attention to other religions and the analytical programme of religion class is marked by an Orthodox approach on Christianity that is reflected in religious instruction manuals.

D 19 September 2012    ALina Molokotos

Taking religious minorities into account

Non-Orthodox students, if they so choose, are exempt from religion class, prayer and school masses, but no other type of instruction is available. In order to obtain an exemption, both parents (...)

Non-Orthodox students, if they so choose, are exempt from religion class, prayer and school masses, but no other type of instruction is available.
In order to obtain an exemption, both parents of the pupils (or the pupil himself, according to his age) must send an official request to the head of the institution, declaring that the pupil is not an Orthodox.
There are however denominational establishments, in certain areas where a strong concentration of religious minorities is found; namely Catholic schools in the Cyclades Islands and Moslem establishments in the north of Greece.
The majority of the Turkish pupils receive education from a special autonomous schools for minorities (meionotika scholeia),located in Thrace, which offers a bilingual program of education (Greek-Turkish). The rate of schooling and the educational level are in general lower there than that of the other religious minorities in Greece, and the level of Greek language of the Turkish pupils is very low.
The Ministry of education developed a new program for the teaching of the Moslem pupils of Turkish origin, with new programs of studies and handbooks aiming at a better adaptation of the Moslem children and at the improvement of the teachers’ training.

See the website of the Ministry of Education (in Greek).

D 19 September 2012    ALina Molokotos

Taking diversity into account

Faced with the religious and ethnic diversification of the Greek society since the 90s there have been initiatives that show an awareness of the diversity in ethnic backgrounds and religions (...)

Faced with the religious and ethnic diversification of the Greek society since the 90s there have been initiatives that show an awareness of the diversity in ethnic backgrounds and religions among students and teachers.
Thus, the initiatives of the 1996 law of the Ministry of Education on intercultural education (diapolitismiki ekpaidefsi) introduced a greater awareness of cultural and ethnic diversity. There are several debates regarding the content of religion courses and attempts to progressively introduce elements designed to heighten students’ awareness to ethnic, cultural and religious differences within the context of an approach to teaching that is more historical and less denominational. This evolution is already underway within the context of a new set of themes that, as of the 2005-2006 school year, will aim at raising awareness and encouraging reflection on inter-denominational dialogue and the presence of religious minorities in Greece. It is a question of raising students’ awareness to ethnic, cultural and religious differences (Diathematiko Eniaio Plaisio Programmatos Spoudon/DEPPS).
Several Greek courses and preparatory schools geared at foreign students and omogeneis Greeks (foreign Greeks, from the former Soviet Union for example) and repatriated Greeks who do not have a very good grasp of the Greek language have been created.

D 19 September 2012    ALina Molokotos

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