Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training is making a scheme on compulsory swimming lessons for pupils to enhance drowning prevention...
Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training is making a scheme on compulsory swimming lessons for pupils to enhance drowning prevention.
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Not many pupils are reported to be able to swim. Nearly 13% of students at primary schools and 22% at junior high schools can swim, according to statistics by Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training. At present, there are no swimming pools at schools. Existing swimming pools are managed by local and central departments, agencies and some are privately-owned. Most swimming pools (6 privately-owned pools) are located in Nha Trang City. There is only 1 pool in Ninh Hoa Town, Cam Ranh City and Dien Khanh. There is no swimming pool in Cam Lam District, so some people have to take their children to Cam Ranh City to take swimming courses.
Therefore, it is essential to build swimming pools at schools and teach children how to swim. The Ministry of Education & Training has encouraged making swimming a mandatory part of the physical education curriculum in a bid to prevent drowning. Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training is going to complete a 2017-2020 scheme on compulsory swimming lessons and drowning prevention for primary and junior high school pupils who are considered at high risk of drowning. Teaching swimming to children is believed to be vital as it can provide young learners with an essential life-saving skill as well as prepare them to gain an active start to life.
The scheme defines a goal of 60% of pupils at primary schools and 75% at junior high schools are able to swim. Specifically, 4,800 children at primary schools and 4,800 at junior high schools are expected to have compulsory swimming lessons in Khanh Hoa Province by the end of 2017. More than 19,200 children at primary schools and 14,400 at junior high schools by 2020 will get swimming lessons under a curriculum requirement by 2020, reports Le Dinh Thuan, Vice-Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training.
Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training has suggested investing in inflatable swimming pools to facilitate teaching swimming at schools. The measure has been taken in many cities and provinces because of advantages such as low cost, convenience for use and portability. More than VND24.5 billion capital in the period 2017-2020 can afford 56 inflatable swimming pools at 56 schools and the swimming pools will be moved to other schools after 2 years of use.
At a recent meeting with local departments and agencies, Nguyen Duy Bac, Vice-Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee, has requested Khanh Hoa Department of Education & Training to complete a scheme on compulsory swimming lessons and drowning prevention for primary and junior high school pupils, period 2017-2020.
Accordingly, the program will be piloted at every district and town. The scheme also defines activities, organization, teaching staff as well as expected funding from the local budget and the public participation during the use and management of swimming pools after construction. In addition, local departments and communities are requested to develop various forms of teaching swimming to children in an effort to prevent drowning among children.
H.Ngan
Translated by N.T
