Free swimming classes help rural students prevent drowning

A swimming session of students at Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, Vi Thanh 1 Commune, Can Tho City.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, a teacher at Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, said that the school is located in a rural area with a dense system of canals. Many parents are busy with farming and do not have time to teach their children to swim, so there is a potential risk of drowning. Before 2022, a student at the school drowned, so the school decided to open a free swimming class every summer.

To open the class, the school took advantage of the canal in front of the school to make a swimming pool, mobilized benefactors to sponsor swimming equipment and some of the school's physical education teachers volunteered to teach the class. "After mobilizing, the benefactor supported 20 life jackets as swimming equipment, combined with the volunteer spirit of the teachers at the school, the class gradually operated stably. Fortunately, parents are very supportive," Ms. Van added.

The class is held 3 sessions/week, lasting 2 summer months. After this time, 100% of the students participating in the class know how to swim freely, tread water and save themselves when encountering dangerous situations on the river. They are also equipped with skills to handle when seeing someone drowning, not to jump in to save them immediately but to quickly ask for help from adults.

Pham Minh Dang, a 4A student, shared: “In the past, every time I passed through the canals and ditches near my house, I was afraid of slipping and falling into the water. One time, it rained heavily and the road was flooded, so I had to ask a relative to walk me to school. Since I learned how to swim, I feel much more confident because I know how to float and breathe underwater. If I accidentally fall into the water, I don’t panic like before.”

Ms. Vo Thi Phuong, Minh Dang's parent, expressed: "Before, I was very worried and nervous when my child played near canals and ditches, but now I feel reassured, because he basically knows how to swim and float on the water. Truly, learning to swim is a very valuable thing, helping our children practice both physical fitness and survival skills, so parents are very supportive of the free swimming class organized by the school."

Taking place from the summer of 2022 to present, the class has helped about 60 students of the school learn swimming skills, play and exercise. “After the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year, the school will review and make a list of students from grades 1 to 5 who are in need to open swimming classes in the afternoon after school. Thereby, helping them learn how to swim, protect themselves and develop comprehensively both physically and in life skills” - Ms. Van informed.

“Free swimming classes for children” is not only a physical education model but also a practical solution to the problem of drowning accidents in children. Maintaining and expanding this model is necessary, it will help build a safer, more civilized and responsible community for the comprehensive development of children.

Article and photos: PHUOC THUAN

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/lop-day-boi-mien-phi-giup-hoc-sinh-nong-thon-phong-tranh-duoi-nuoc-a189864.html