In the nearly 2 months since the launch of a swimming teaching and learning programme in Da Nang, over 14,000 primary school pupils have taken swimming courses across the city, 2.5 times higher than in the same period last year.

The vice principal of Ngo Gia Tu Primary School in Son Tra District, Mr Nguyen Dinh Hoa, said “Over the past 2 months, a total of 242 pupils have registered for swimming classes at my school, and they have been very excited to take part in the activity.  Most notably, their parents are now fully aware of the vital role of swimming courses because they help the children enhance their physical health and reduce their risk of drowning”.

According to the latest statistics released by the municipal Department of Education and Training (DoET), the majority of swimming pools for school pupils are now operating at full capacity.  A total of 5,280 pupils are taking swimming classes at 11 mobile swimming pools, another 660 at the Luong The Vinh Primary School, and 480 more at the Anh Dao Kindergarten.

Pupils at a swimming class

In attempting to meet the increasing demand, district-level Education and Training offices have already appealed for businesses and organisations to offer their swimming pools free for organising swimming courses for local pupils.  Amongst the free offers are the Da Nang Riverside Hotel, Engineering Regiment 83 of the navy, the Anh Dao Kindergarten, the Xuan Thieu Tourism Area, the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital, and the University of Sports and Physical Training.

Also, appeals are being made for public investments into building more swimming pools for local pupils.

The Da Nang authorities recently granted capital from the city's budget to build a pool in Tran Cao Van Primary School in Thanh Khe District, and to install 10 adjustable depth swimming pools at schools in Hoa Vang District, Ngu Hanh Son District’s Hoa Quy Ward, Lien Chieu District's Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, and Hoa Phat and Hoa Xuan wards in Cam Le District.

DoET’s Deputy Director Le Thi Bich Thuan remarked, “This is the first-ever swimming teaching and learning programme to be deployed in the city.  The intention is to raise public awareness about the significance of teaching children how to swim.  The schedules of these courses is being publicly displayed, and their hotlines are offered visually.  Checking the attendance of the trainees before and after the courses is being strictly implemented”.