(1) The religious education given to any student in attendance at a public school under section 147(2) shall be given in accordance with an agreed syllabus adopted for the school and shall not include any catechism or formulary which is distinctive of any particular religious denomination.
(2) In respect of public schools the Minister may constitute a standing advisory council on religious matters connected with the religious instruction to be given in accordance with an agreed syllabus and in particular, as to methods of teaching, the choice of books, and the provision of lecturers or teachers.