SwimSafer Certification is Mandatory in All Local Primary Schools

Did you know that there were 41 drowning incidents and 39 deaths in Singapore between 1989 to 2017? This figure is unsettling!

SwimSafer is a national water safety programme in Singapore, implemented by the National Water Safety Council (NWSC). The programme aims to equip children with adequate swimming competencies and water survival skills. This way, you will have ease of mind when your child goes splashing in the pool during the hot summer!

In 2018, the programme was enhanced by SportsSG to SwimSafer 2.0, where some aspects of the syllabus were changed to expose children to more realistic adverse water conditions. You can refer to our post here for more details. Or you could head to ActiveSg for the very comprehensive write up on the Swimsafer program.

Following the review, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has also adopted this programme for all primary school students as part of their Physical Education (PE) lessons. Furthermore, SwimSafer Certification is now made mandatory for all Primary 3 students.

Afraid your child will be stressed out juggling both studies and swimming? Start early, and learn at your own pace! This will not only help your child to build their water confidence in a comfortable environment, but is also beneficial in maintaining an active lifestyle from a young age.

Mandatory Skill for National Service

All Singaporean males are to serve a 2-year mandatory national service when they reach the age of 18. Being able to swim is a basic skill required of all recruits in the Basic Military Training (BMT). How miserable would you feel when your friends are relaxing after their day-to-day training while you have to spend extra hours brushing up on your swimming skills?

The BMT is a 3-months rite of passage for all national servicemen, and your overall performance will determine the vocation you would be assigned to thereafter.

Although swimming is part of the training syllabus for BMT, it would be arduous and stressful to start from scratch only when your child enters the army. Therefore, it would be more beneficial to start learning from a young age and develop the skills gradually in a stress-free environment.

In addition, starting early allows them to pick up a variety of strokes and refine their water survival skills which could land them in specialised vocations like the National Diving Unit (NDU).

Moreover, Swimming is a good form of exercise to build and maintain their physique and fitness before enlistment. Many studies have shown that it is one of the best sports to improve the cardiovascular system and muscles! These developments are essential in preparing their body for the physical demands of a soldier. You surely do not want to be a frequent visitor to the medical centre due to your lack of exercise!

Swimming is a Frequent School Activity

Other than the Swimsafer program, many school activities expect one to have learned to swim when they were young. These activities are adventure-packed and may involve a series of water-sports such as swimming and kayaking in open waters.

Some examples include Outward Bound and Orientation or Leadership Camps in all schools and levels (Primary/Secondary/Tertiary).

Furthermore, as part of ensuring that the students receive a holistic education, MOE regularly exposes the students to many outdoor extra-curricular activities that are essential in developing a child’s character. Hence, they would require a certain level of swimming capabilities and water safety knowledge. This prevents them from being left out.

Having a sit out in such an exciting and once-in-a-lifetime experience with their best friends in school would not be a pleasant memory to keep.

A Common Social Activity in Tropical Singapore

Complaining about the heat is the bread and butter of all Singaporeans. The extremely hot weather makes most sports a dreadful activity! Thus, swimming is considered one of the most common activities for locals to enjoy the benefits of sports without risking a heat stroke.

Furthermore, with a continued increase in the number of condominiums in Singapore (approximately 210.3 thousand in 2018), and more than 2000 swimming pools, swimming has long become an essential bonding activity between friends and families. This can be in the form of kids pool parties, or just a regular play date.

To ensure your child is not left out of such social activity, do ensure they are competent swimmers ready to dive in the pool with their friends!

Singapore is an Island Nation Surrounded by Water

Fun fact! Did you know that Singapore comprises one main island and 63 offshore islets? These islets are generally accessible by ferries from Marina South Pier, West Coast Pier, and Changi Point Jetty, and are great locations for a weekend getaway.

Swimming is an essential life skill to have when you are living in a country which is not only surrounded by water but also consists of a high number of swimming pools (over 2000!). Being aware of water hazards (pools, lakes, rivers, canals, etc) and having the capability to deal with emergencies around them is paramount.

Besides, knowing how to swim gives you more flexibility in the activities (such as kayaking, scuba diving, boat-fishing, and snorkeling) you can participate in when venturing to such getaways.

Conclusion

Swimming has transformed to more of a culture than a sport in Singapore. This is especially so when your child is experiencing his school years. To ensure your kids do not miss out or be left behind, enroll your child in kids swimming lessons for a necessary start.

Hey there! My name is Ray and I am one of the co-owners of Swimray Private Swimming Lessons Singapore. My articles draw from my experiences during my time in the Naval Diving Unit in Singapore, and my experiences as a private swimming coach. I am also an avid traveler who is the author of Crazy Curious Traveller. Hope you enjoy my articles!