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Germany plans rescue: Swimming pools should make children safe!
On July 3, 2025, the Bäderallianz in Hanover will present a plan to renovate swimming pools in Germany to promote swimming.
Germany plans rescue: Swimming pools should make children safe!
There is a crucial trend in Germany that affects us all: children's ability to swim is declining. This became particularly clear with the recent presentation of a Germany-wide plan for the renovation and modernization of swimming pools in Hanover, as [NDR](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/hannover_weser-leinegebiet/deutschland-soll-wieder-schwimmfaehig- Werden,schwimmbad-152.html) reported. According to the DLRG, under the current conditions there is a growing number of children who cannot swim, which also brings with it an increased risk of swimming accidents.
What's behind this worrying trend? Since 2017, the proportion of primary school children who cannot swim has doubled - from 10% to 20% in 2022. Before the pandemic, around 40% of ten-year-olds in Germany were able to swim safely, which corresponds to the German Bronze Swimming Badge, as shown jmwiarda.de mentioned. This raises questions not only about children's safety, but also about the future of school swimming lessons, which in many cases are already at risk.
Outdated infrastructure and decline in swimming badges
A central point of the pool alliance's plan is to improve the infrastructure. Many swimming pools in Germany are dilapidated or have already been closed, which affects learning to swim. Another alarming fact is the backlog of renovations at public swimming pools: without investment, around 800 swimming pools are at risk of closure in the next three years, according to jmwiarda.de.
The DLRG states that 58% of children in Germany are not safe swimmers at the end of primary school. This is in contrast to the expectations of the Conference of Ministers of Education, which recommends at least 30 hours of swimming lessons up to primary school. The need for qualified teachers and a binding framework for swimming lessons are overdue. The DLRG is therefore calling for a nationwide pool requirements plan to improve the situation.
A call to action
The renovation plan not only provides for the preservation of existing facilities, but also the closing of gaps and the targeted construction of new swimming pools. Such a commitment is necessary in order to make school swimming lessons reliable again. The high rate of non-swimmers in cities like Bremen, where there are numerous swimming accidents, shows that there is a need for action, especially on hot summer days. This development is not just a local problem, but also a problem for society as a whole that affects us all.
Swimming not only promotes movement and concentration, but is also crucial for children's social participation. The DLRG has conducted surveys among parents which show that many still have a false impression of their children's swimming abilities. 57% are classified as safe swimmers, although this does not correspond to reality, as the DLRG emphasizes. Detecting the seahorse does not equate to learning safe swimming skills.
It is now up to us to ensure our children's ability to swim through awareness-raising and targeted policies. A call to all decision-makers: Now is the time to act!
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