The decisions regarding the removal of religion and citizenship from secondary school diplomas is now signed by the Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Niki Kerameus.
From now on, the decisions are expected to be published in the Official Government Gazette.
It is reminded that according to these decisions, religion and citizenship are no longer listed in the school records and secondary school diplomas and certificates and in the “myschool” information system.
“Our goal at the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs is to constantly nurture a school environment that is free, creative and inclusive. We fight all forms of discrimination and we respect religious beliefs,” Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Niki Kerameus said in a statement.
“At the same time, we ensure the protection of pupils’ personal data, in accordance with national and EU law. In this respect, it was considered that the inclusion of religion and citizenship in the diplomas and certificates of studies is not necessary and appropriate for their purposes, which reagard solely the monitoring the studies and attesting to the pupils’ performance and successful completion of their studies,” the Minister added.
“In this context, we are immediately making the necessary modifications to the relevant arrangements so that the collection and processing of such personal data, at all levels of education, is fully compliant with the requirements of national and EU law,” Ms. Kerameus concluded.
Earlier, the Hellenic Data Protection Authority had ruled that the indication of religion and nationality in secondary education certificates, as well as the solemn declaration by students that they are not Orthodox Christians so that they are exempt from the religious education, were unconstitutional, unlawful and contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights.
The Authority considered that the indication of religion and nationality in school records and “myschool” information system, as well as the solemn declaration that the student is not a Christian Orthodox so that he/she is exempt on the grounds of religious or spiritual beliefs, are not legal.