Swimming Lessons To Become Compulsory In Victorian Schools
As part of new curriculum released next year.
By Practical Parenting
November 28 2016
New curriculum set to be released in schools next year will see all children learning how to swim.
The Sun Herald revealed it will be compulsory for all Victorian school children to be able to swim 50 metres and ‘demonstrate survival skills’.
Education and Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said some schools aren’t doing enough with their students in the water.
“That’s why we felt it was important to make it a mandatory part of the new Victorian curriculum,” Merlino said.
The change in curriculum comes after Life Saving Victoria research that found three out of five of the state’s students didn't know how to swim once they finished primary school.
Merlino added that he hopes the compulsory swimming lessons will save lives.
“That’s why students will learn about water safety, how to float and swim as part of their physical education classes under the new Victorian curriculum from term one next year,” he said.
Despite the crackdown, the publication reports no new funding will be allocated to schools to implement the policy. The Herald reports that instead, "schools will need to look at what pools and instructors were available to them locally."
They added: "The government was still considering the results of a trial of a before-school lessons program, which Life Saving Victoria wants rolled out more broadly to ensure kids get the water safety training they need."
What do you think? Should all children be taught how to swim at school?
