Only 5.3% of Nghe An primary school students learn to swim.

At the workshop, the Department of Education and Training reported on the results of the implementation of the Plan to prevent injuries and drowning for primary school students in 2017. Accordingly, the province currently has 540 primary schools (100%) implementing the safe school program and educating on injury and drowning prevention in many forms.

In addition, only 13,952/261,380 (5.3%) primary school students have learned to swim and have water safety skills; 32 primary schools have implemented swimming lessons for students, of which 7 schools teach swimming at school, 25 schools coordinate with local centers to organize.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Department of Culture & Sports, relevant departments and branches, and representatives of the Departments of Education and Training in the province. Photo: My Ha

The units also organized 65 club activities, educational and propaganda activities such as dramatization, traffic safety exchanges, drowning prevention, etc. At the same time, they integrated many activities such as collective activities at the beginning of the week, at the end of the week, flag salute, extracurricular programs, etc.

However, the implementation of the plan in the past time still faced many difficulties, mainly in terms of facilities, the coordination between schools, families and the community is not yet sustainable. The socialization of swimming teaching for students is still limited, the number of teachers with swimming teaching certificates is low (8 teachers)...

Participating in the discussion, many delegates also shared their experiences and lessons on preventing drowning accidents and injuries in their localities. At the same time, they affirmed that organizing swimming lessons for children in schools must be implemented as an extremely necessary survival skill.

Teaching swimming to students at Anh Son Town Primary School using a mobile swimming pool. Photo courtesy

To continue and strengthen education on injury and drowning prevention for children, in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on the following groups of solutions: Improving responsibility and effectiveness of management and direction; building and replicating models of safe homes, safe schools, and safe communities; integrating the content of drowning injury prevention in teaching and learning activities.

In addition, it is necessary to promote communication and education to raise awareness among students, parents, and the community; increase advocacy and mobilize socialization in the work of preventing accidents, injuries, and drowning; build and supplement facilities and equipment for schools, etc. At the same time, train to improve the capacity of teacher managers.