SWIMMING AND LIFE-SAVING LESSONS

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for Education (a) how many schools conduct swimming and life-saving lessons for their pupils; (b) how frequent these lessons are conducted and what is the duration of each lesson; and (c) whether there are any tests of proficiency for these lessons.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Swimming is not a compulsory component of the Physical Education (PE) syllabus. However, schools are encouraged to conduct various forms of swimming programmes for their pupils.

Presently only six schools (one junior college, four secondary schools and one primary school) have swimming pools. These schools conduct swimming lessons during the PE lessons. Schools situated near public swimming pools also conduct swimming lessons. Simple rescue techniques, but not lifesaving, is taught as part of the swimming programme.

These swimming lessons are usually conducted once a week for 10 weeks. Each lesson is of about 45 minutes' duration and pupils may take a proficiency test at the end of the programme.

At the primary level, most schools conduct the Learn-to-Swim programme for their P4 and P6 pupils after the P4 streaming examination and after the PSLE respectively. This programme is for beginners and consists of 12 swimming lessons. Each lesson, which is conducted during curriculum time, lasts for about 45 minutes. Pupils generally take a proficiency test at the end of the programme. From 1994 to 1997, a total of 44,800 pupils took part in the programme. The number of schools involved each year ranges from 90 to 124.

Apart from swimming done as an element in the PE lessons, swimming is also promoted in the school ECA programme. Presently, 145 primary school (74%) and 70 secondary schools (43%) have swimming in their ECA. In 1997 alone, about 20,000 pupils received the National Swimming Survival Award conducted by the Singapore Sports Council. While pupils are taught simple rescue techniques as part of the PE programme, lifesaving is not included in the syllabus.