WATER SURVIVAL, LIFE-SAVING AND FIRST-AID LESSONS FOR SCHOOLS

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for Education whether the Ministry will consider introducing water survival, life-saving and first aid lessons as extra-curricular activities for all schools, and accord more recognition for the participation of such activities.

RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Swimming as a water survival skill is promoted in the school ECA programmes. It is also one of the core ECA sports activity, but it is not compulsory: there are only 6 schools with swimming pools, while the schools situated near the 27 public pools are encouraged to conduct swimming lessons for their pupils. Presently, 145 primary schools (74%) and 70 secondary schools (45%) have swimming in their ECA.

The Ministry has no plans to make life-saving and first aid an ECA in schools. Simple rescue techniques, but not life-saving, are taught as part of the swimming programme and in other water sports, like sailing and canoeing.

Basic first aid, eg, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation is included in the PE programme of secondary schools. First aid is already among the training activities of all uniformed groups. There is no need to promote it as an ECA on its own.

Like other ECA, pupils who offer swimming as a sport would be awarded ECA points based on their level of participation.