Victorian schools will scrap special religious instruction from class time, with changes to the state's curriculum throwing the future of the controversial program in doubt.

The Andrews government has ordered that the weekly 30 minute program move to lunchtime and before and after school in 2016 to make way for new content on world histories, cultures, faiths and ethics.

Classes that address domestic violence and respectful relationships will also become compulsory for all prep to year 10 students from 2016.

The state government said students were missing out on essential learning while SRI took place.