PROPOSED changes to the way parents are notified about the option of ethics classes in NSW schools have been criticised by supporters, who claim they are a deliberate attempt to stymie the classes' take up.

A government-initiated inquiry into ethics classes was held this year following calls for their abolition by the Christian Democratic Party MP, Fred Nile, whose party shares the balance of power in the upper house.

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli ... said the government "agrees that there ought to be an alternative provided for students who are not undertaking scripture classes." Credit:Ben Rushton

It found the classes should be retained but recommended that parents should not be advised the classes are available until after they have decided to opt out of special religious education, or scripture.

The Greens MP John Kaye, who sat on the parliamentary committee that conducted the inquiry, said if adopted the change would result in ''artificial and illogical barriers'' being thrown up between parents and ethics classes. ''Ethics education is to be treated as a second class option because the O'Farrell government needs the votes of Fred Nile's Christian Democrats in the upper house,'' he said.