Too few swimming vouchers are redeemed: children have to learn to swim!

Too few swimming vouchers are redeemed: children have to learn to swim!

Sachsen-Anhalt, Deutschland - The water world in Saxony-Anhalt has to struggle with a real problem: Despite the spending around 8,000 swimming vouchers that are intended to catch up with fancy swimming courses during the Corona period, only around 1,037 vouchers have been redeemed. This reports n-tv . At first glance, luck seems to be a long time for many children who want to learn to swim.

The situation could change soon, because the Ministry of Education is planning to extend the program by November 30, 2026 and to output additional vouchers. The background is clear: more and more enrolled children only have inadequate swimming ability. The vouchers have a value of up to 150 euros and are specially intended for children and young people who cannot swim or only poorly. These are assessed by qualified swimming teachers on site.

swimming vouchers as important support

Corona pandemic has severely affected swimming lessons at schools in Saxony-Anhalt, which has tempted the country to financially support swimming courses outside of schools. According to State Schulamt.sachsen-anhalt.de are the swimming vouchers for pupils of all primary and special schools in Saxony-Anhalt, especially for those who have completed in swimming lessons in swimming lessons in the school year 2021/2022. These vouchers can only be redeemed for recognized course providers, which minimum requirements have to be met.

A crucial point are the difficulties in the swimming pool. Due to a limited number of water times, waiting lists often arise that make immediate swimming lessons difficult. As a result, these vouchers cannot be used to the desired scope, which of course is not in the interests of children and parents.

The situation of swimming skills in children

DLRG (German Life Rettungs Society) has noticed a steady increase in non-swimmers for years. According to dlrg.de , 57 percent of children are classified by their parents as a safe swimmer. That sounds good, but 58 percent of the children at the end of primary school have no swimming badge that questions the media belief in safe swimmers. The swimming badge bronze, and not the seahorse, is crucial to be considered a safe swimmer.

The responsibility also lies with the parents who are responsible for the selection and registration of the courses. There is support from the DRK district association and the DLRG associations on site. It is important that a solution will be found as soon as possible to increase the use of the swimming vouchers and thus improve the floating skills of the children.