Religious education and and ethics lessons are regular subjects at public schools. Pupils take part in these lessons - regardless of their affiliation to a religious community - either religious education or ethics lessons. Ethics lessons are a compulsory subject if the pupils do not take part in religious education. At the beginning of the first and fifth school year, parents decide for their children whether they wish to take part in ethics lessons, Protestant religious education or Catholic religious education. Pupils can decide for themselves about their participation in religious education from the time they reach the age of religious maturity at the age of 14. From the age of 12, however, you may not be educated in another denomination against your will. Your parents /legal guardians can no longer no longer withdraw you against your will .

Note: For the school semester a change between the 3 subjects is possible.