Minister says religious studies comments ‘misinterpreted’

Alternate Education Minister Sia Anagnostopoulou said Monday that comments in where she appeared to suggest that the government will simplify the process for school pupils to opt out of religious studies classes had been “misinterpreted” by the media.

Her comments, made Friday on Sto Kokkino radio, on Sunday prompted the reaction of Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Church of Greece, who said that the Constitution would have to change for religious studies to become an optional subject.

Ieronymos is to discuss the issue with Education Minister Nikos Filis on Tuesday at noon.