Religious education at compulsory schools in Liechtenstein

In Liechtenstein, the Roman Catholic Church is the national church and the state is committed to religious and moral education (Constitution Art. 15). At the same time, however, it grants everyone freedom of faith and conscience (Constitution Art. 37).

For religious education at elementary school, this means that all children who are registered as Catholic or Protestant on enrolment attend Catholic or Protestant religious education. The content of denominational religious education is the responsibility of the respective churches, which also provide the teachers for the lessons.

Due to freedom of faith and conscience, it is possible to withdraw from denominational lessons. This should be addressed to the school management. From the 2019/20 school year, all elementary school children who do not attend Catholic or Protestant religious education will be taught "Ethics and Religions" (part of the subject Nature, Man, Society) by an elementary school teacher. This will ensure that all children acquire the relevant skills of the new LiLe curriculum. These skills are also integrated into the new curricula for denominational religious education. At the request of parents and in agreement with the churches or religious education teachers, children without a denomination, for example, can also attend denominational religious education.

For secondary schools, the government concluded an agreement with the Archdiocese of Vaduz in 2003. Parents and children can choose between the subject "Ethics and Religions" and denominational religious education (Catholic or Protestant). Protestant religious education takes place if there are sufficient registrations.

The choice is made as part of the transfer procedure in year 5 of elementary school. A course in "Ethics and Religions" or in denominational religious education takes place if at least six (1 lesson) or at least eight (2 lessons) participants are registered. (See Art. 6 Para. 1 or Appendix 1 of the School Organization Ordinance, valid from 1 August 2013) The choice is valid for one school year, i.e. a child can be re-registered for the next school year at the request of the parents.