TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Australian state requires primary school students to learn to swim
Change Size
It is compulsory for children to acquire the Victorian Water Safety Certificate by completing tests on the knowledge of water safety, life-saving skills and the ability to survive. (Shutterstock/File)
T
he Government of Victoria, Australia, has announced on Monday that all children at the age of 12 under Victoria's school system are required to be able to swim, and such a skill will be taught as part of the mandatory curriculum across the state’s schools.
This change in curriculum follows a study that found three out of five students in Victoria are unable to swim after finishing elementary school. All schools are thus required to develop their own programs to educate children on water safety, which will receive government funding for its execution.
Victoria’s Education and Emergency Services Minister James Merlino underlined that the new curriculum will “help save lives”. According to the Victorian Drowning Report, 44 people have reportedly died in Victorian waters over the last 12 months, which is five more than the 10-year average. In addition to that, between 2015 and 2016, there were a total of 113 non-fatal and fatal drowning incidents. Also, six out of eight people lost their lives while boating without wearing life jackets.
(Read also: Cool off at these swimming pools in Jakarta)
"It shows we've got to do more so we've made the decision to make sure swimming as well as water safety swim survival skills are a compulsory part of the new Victorian curriculum," Merlino told the Herald Sun.
It is compulsory for children to acquire the Victorian Water Safety Certificate by completing tests on the knowledge of water safety, life-saving skills and the ability to survive.
Life Saving Victoria’s general manager of education Kate Simpson said now is the right time “to deliver these life skills”. She hopes the knowledge and skills obtained by the children will transfer into adulthood. (mra/kes)
