Promoting swimming in schools.

Among the annual accidents and injuries to children, drowning claims the lives of many young people. Therefore, Thai Nguyen is actively promoting the school swimming movement with a comprehensive approach, combining physical training with life skills education, linked to policy orientation and the joint efforts of the whole society.

Chua Hang 1 Junior High School awarded prizes to students with outstanding achievements at the first Student Swimming Competition.

In the early days of the 2025-2026 school year, the grounds of Chua Hang 1 Secondary School in Linh Son Ward were more bustling than usual. It wasn't just the sound of the opening ceremony drums or the radiant smiles of students returning to school, but also a special event: the launching ceremony of the swimming campaign, the dissemination of education on drowning prevention skills, and the first ever student swimming competition.

In the cool blue waters of the swimming pool, 88 student athletes from grades 6 to 9 competed in 7 events. From the slow, graceful breaststrokes of the 6th graders to the powerful strokes in the freestyle of the 9th graders, it all created a true sports festival. But more importantly, through this activity, each student improved their physical fitness and, above all, equipped themselves with an essential life skill.

Mr. Duong Van Truong, Principal of Chua Hang 1 Secondary School, shared: "Developing swimming skills not only helps students develop physically, but also provides them with essential life skills, especially given the numerous tragic drowning accidents that still occur every year."

The swimming movement at Chua Hang 1 Secondary School goes beyond a single competition. From regular awareness campaigns and integrating drowning prevention content into physical education classes to daily reminders about the dangers of ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, the school has persistently worked to build awareness among its students. As a result, over 60% of students now know how to swim – a remarkable achievement demonstrating the determination of both teachers and students.

Several schools in the province have built swimming pools and organized swimming lessons and provided guidance on drowning prevention skills for students.

Not only at Chua Hang 1 Secondary School, but promoting school swimming is also in line with the province's overall direction. Previously, following the Prime Minister's directive on the Program to strengthen education on knowledge and skills for preventing drowning among students in the period 2025-2035, the Thai Nguyen Department of Education and Training issued a specific guidance document, considering this a key task for the school year. Schools have paid more attention to building school swimming movements. Swimming pools have been renovated, many swimming classes have been opened during the summer, and extracurricular activities on drowning prevention skills have been organized regularly.

Several schools, such as Mo Che Primary School, Thai Nguyen Specialized High School, and Dai Tu High School, have also actively developed the movement, opening swimming classes and organizing extracurricular activities on drowning prevention skills.

Recently, the Department of Education and Training also coordinated the organization of safe swimming techniques and drowning prevention skills classes for 620 children in Phu Binh and Kha Son communes. These activities demonstrate the province's efforts in promoting school swimming and raising awareness and skills in preventing drowning accidents among children.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Ninh, a specialist at the Department of Education and Training, affirmed: Introducing swimming into schools is not just a simple sporting activity, but also a sustainable preventive solution, linked to the responsibility of families, schools, and society as a whole.

In reality, the school swimming movement in Thai Nguyen is gradually evolving from individual activities to a long-term strategy, linked to the goal of building a safe and comprehensive educational environment. From these initial models, the provincial education sector is continuing to expand them to many localities, encouraging the synchronized participation of schools, families, and society.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202509/thuc-day-phong-trao-boi-hoc-duong-4e9681b/