(Sir Europe - Bratislava) - Talks have started between the government and Churches in Hungary on the organisation of religious education, which will optionally be offered during regular school hours as of September 2013, under new public education laws. New rules, requiring pupils to attend one ethics class per week or choose religious education organised by Church instead, will apply to all primary schools. The ethics classes will be taught by teachers at schools, after they complete a 60-hour training. Religious education will be provided by Church teachers and catechists from outside the school. Parents will be able to choose among classes offered by several Churches registered in Hungary. Kornel Papp, head of the education office of the Hungarian Reformed Church, stated for the daily newspaper Magyar Nemze that talks with the state secretariat in charge of education addressed the practical matters regarding establishment of religious education. The guidelines should be ready by summer 2012.

23/04/2012 -