New South Wales' Labor leader says he does not think the state should follow his Victorian counterpart in banning scripture from being taught in school hours.

Victoria's Labor Government has announced that religious education will be confined to lunchtime, before school and after school from next year.

The NSW Greens want the state to follow Victoria's lead, but Opposition Leader Luke Foley said he did not support the policy.

"I don't consider the case for change has been made," he said.

"Scripture has been made available to public school students for many decades in New South Wales. It should continue to be made available."

However, Mr Foley said it was vital that ethics classes were also made freely available to students who did not want religious instruction.

"The policy principle that guides the Labor Party is parental and student choice, rather than ideologues imposing their own world view on students and their families," he said.

In July, the NSW Government was criticised for changing the school enrolment form by removing a box that parents could tick if they wanted their child to take ethics classes instead of religious education.

Mr Foley said it was a result of pressure from Christian Democrats MP Fred Nile.

"My concern in Reverend Nile has convinced Mike Baird to quietly change the enrolment form," Mr Foley said.

"Let's leave it to parents and students to make their own decisions."

At the time, the Government denied any political deal had been done with the Christian Democrats, saying ethics classes were still listed as an option for students.

Greens MP John Kaye said if scripture was moved outside school hours, it would provide more time for other learning.

"Relegate it to what it should be," he said.

"Scripture should be seen as an extra-curricular activity.

"Instead of plonking it in the middle of a very crowded curriculum, it should be pushed out to the times when it truly is optional for students.

"Victorian students are being given half an hour a week additional curriculum time because the Government in that state has the courage to stand up to the religious lobbies."

The Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools, which represents Christian providers, defended the role of religious education in the NSW curriculum.

"Education is not just ... for getting a job, it's much more comprehensive. It's education for life," spokesman Peter Adamson said.

"People come with their faiths and those faiths aren't just an add-on addition, they're integral to the very nature of community and society."

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli was unavailable for comment.