The DLRG raises the alarm: our children cannot swim properly. With Corona, the trend has intensified. Vacancies in swimming courses? in short supply. Equally suitable swimming facilities. But: there is also hope.
Even before Corona, a place in a swimming course was a real stroke of luck. The pandemic and the temporary closure of many swimming pools have made the situation even worse. Many beginner swimming courses and courses at schools have been cancelled – also in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The President of the German Life Saving Society (DLRG), Ute Vogt, is therefore sounding the alarm. “We assume that we have almost two school years who can’t swim.” Eleonore Wagner, the managing director of the Württemberg regional association, also confirms “that we noticed Corona very much. The waiting times for courses were up to two years before that. Now they have even increased again.”
Lack of staff and suitable swimming pools are missing: no swimming lessons
The lack of staff also makes swimming lessons almost impossible in many places. Suitable swimming pools are still missing, warns the Rhineland-Palatinate DLRG President Andreas Back. Too many indoor pools are dilapidated or have already been closed. “The available lane times have become less and less. As a result, the distances that have to be covered to a swimming pool are increasing. This of course means that swimming lessons are becoming fewer and fewer.”
Measures and personal initiatives: How do children learn to swim?
The Palatinate district of Germersheim is trying to counteract this trend. This is made possible by a project that the district launched in the spring. Some schools in the district can now offer regular swimming lessons for the first time. In the coming months, every child in the district should have the opportunity to learn to swim. The University of Landau had investigated that 40 percent of all elementary school students in the district could not swim after fourth grade. That was responded to.
Don’t be afraid of water – swimming can save lives
“We are a district with a lot of water. We have numerous bathing lakes. And swimming is a life-saving skill“, says District Administrator Fritz Brechtel. Two swimming coordinators from the DLRG were appointed to support the schools in organizing the lessons. There are currently 120 students who are looked after four days a week. The district had to pay the costs of 500,000 euros from the the competent supervisory authority (ADD) in Trier for its budget draft.
More swimming courses: Project also in Baden-Württemberg
Since April 1st, the state of Baden-Württemberg has started the new pilot project “SchwimmFidel – off into the water!” to improve swimming ability in preschool children. The state provided 600,000 euros from state funds for this purpose. For the time being, the project is planned to run until August 31st and is primarily intended to initiate cooperation between daycare facilities, swimming clubs and local DLRG groups. This should be the first step for small children to get used to water. “We want the children not to be afraid of water when they come to school,” explains Eleonore Wagner. In addition, one wants to sensitize the parents to the dangers in the water.
As early as last June, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education, the two swimming associations in the state and the DLRG state associations launched a “Corona-related immediate program to improve swimming ability”.. 900,000 euros were initially made available, at the beginning of July the sum was increased by 1.1 million euros. The “SchwimmFidel” project is now building on this.
