More primary school students in Berlin now hold swimming certificates, signifying a substantial increase. - A higher number of Berlin residents are now equipped with swimming permits.
There's been a noticeable improvement in the swimming abilities of Berlin elementary school students, as per recent school reports. In the 2023/2024 academic year, about 24% of third-graders didn't possess a bronze swimming badge or a "seahorse" badge - a beginner's achievement. Previous years showed much higher figures, around 25% and 36%.
These numbers, while indicative, are only somewhat reliable as they represent third-graders who hadn't earned their swimming badges, regardless of their actual swimming proficiency. In the last school year, approximately 28,585 third-graders participated in swimming lessons at school.
Interestingly, there's considerable variance among districts in terms of badge earnings. Lichtenberg, Neukölln, Spandau, and Mitte district have the highest percentages of children without badges, while Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, and Pankow districts demonstrate better results.
The Senate, in response to a query from the Left party, mentioned that factors like migration background, economic status, or family social status are not recorded in this context. However, they assured that free intensive swimming courses are provided during school breaks for children without badges, with the objective of improving their swimming skills and earning a badge.
Behind the Boost in Swimming Badges
Several factors likely contribute to the increase in swimming badge rates among Berlin elementary school students. Here's a brief look at some possible explanations:
- Focus on Swimming in Physical Education: Many school districts worldwide prioritize swimming as a crucial part of physical education, recognizing its importance for safety and lasting health. Structured and frequent swimming lessons can result from this shift.
- Program Improvements and Resources: Investing in school swimming facilities, partnering with local pools, and swim clubs can provide an abundance of opportunities for practice. Better access to skilled instructors and equipment is essential for skill development and earning badges.
- Community and Parental Support: Growing awareness of drowning risks and the benefits of swimming might motivate parents and communities to support swimming lessons, leading to increased participation and additional practice time outside of school hours.
- Positive Reinforcement and Achievement Recognition: Recognizing swimming achievements through badges, certificates, or public recognition can incentivize students to work harder. Celebrating milestones encourages perseverance and contributes to higher success rates.
- Improved Teaching Methods: The adoption of modern teaching methods in physical education might help more students master swimming skills efficiently by catering to various learning styles.
[1] Academic or athletic honor rolls (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_roll[2] The effects of swimming lessons on children's swimming ability and its relationship with physical activity level (ResearchGate): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318027164_The-effects-of-swimming-lessons-on-children's-swimming-ability-and-its-relationship-with-physical-activity-level
Vocational training, education-and-self-development, and learning can be integrated into the swimming improvement program for Berlin third-graders. For instance, the school district could offer vocational training in swimming instruction to teachers, thus enhancing their teaching methods and improving the quality of swimming lessons. Additionally, the community could support the students' learning by organizing free swimming practice sessions outside of school hours, encouraging a culture of continuous education and self-development in swimming.
