The National Association of Theologians (NAT) in Greece have taken it upon themselves to launch a boycott campaign against the new religious studies curriculum.
Following the new books’ release NAT has been urging school teachers to refuse using the material in religious studies classes as they believe there is no need to emphasise the teaching of other beliefs in a predominantly Orthodox Christian country.
President of the Association, Iraklis Rerakis, sent an open letter to primary and secondary school teachers in Greece asking them to “act according to their conscience” urging them to “abstain from the curriculum changes” put forward by SYRIZA “a leftist government” that according to NAT is trying to abolish religion.
Mr Rerakis asked the staff to insist on using the previous syllabus and textbooks for religious studies that have not been revised by the SYRIZA administration.
On that note, a consortium of religious group representatives united last year, taking legal action against the Greek government winning the case accusing SYRIZA of violating the constitution. The argument was based on a paragraph saying that “schools have a duty to develop the national and religious consciousness of students”.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education threatens to take disciplinary action against teachers who boycott the new book.
“The responsibility for the school curriculum lies exclusively with the state,” said Education Minister Costas Gavroglou.
“In our democracy, there are rules and laws. No one is above the law.”