Anger at Cuts to Primary Swimming Education

24 May, 2010 - 11:32 — admin

Anger at Cuts to Primary Swimming Education

The Comhairle’s recent decision to cut back on swimming lessons for all primary pupils in the Western Isles is absolutely appalling. In a community surrounded by water, where many recreational and employment opportunities are linked to the sea, that our councillors are cutting back on teaching children to swim is a total disgrace. Safety factors alone should ensure that swimming, among all other activities taught in schools is given the HIGHEST priority.
 
“Some children were getting more swimming than others”, is the excuse for this cut back. If so, why not bring all children up the highest possible standard, rather than take everyone down to the lowest.
 
Primary children will now only be taught to swim in P5 for 18 hours in that time! This is not acceptable.
 
There has been no consultation with parents or communities! Neither has there been any consideration that the Comhairle should be encouraging use of the swimming pools and enabling all the children who can swim to access the ongoing watersports activities which are available.
 
We have the Marine Safety Agency expressing serious concerns about safety on fishing boats in the same week that swimming classes are slashed to unacceptable levels in the Western Isles.