Schools’ plan to scrap swimming lessons sparks government lifeline

A PLAN by struggling schools to scrap vital swimming lessons amid gaping funding shortfalls has pushed the government to make a $10 million announcement.

Victorian Deputy Premier, Education and Emergency Services Minister James Merlino

A PLAN by struggling schools to scrap vital swimming lessons amid gaping funding shortfalls has pushed the government to make a $10 million announcement.

Some schools intended to cancel lifesaving swim classes — despite requirements for all children to swim 50m by the end of Grade 6 — as they faced bills of tens of thousands of dollars.

FUNDING NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM AS FIVE OUT OF SIX VICTORIAN CHILDREN STILL CANNOT SWIM

WATER SAFETY PLEA AS VICTORIAN DROWNINGS REACH 10-YEAR HIGH

SISTERS OF SWIM RUN THEIR OWN RACE IN LEAD UP TO GAMES

NEW PROGRAM PROMISES TO HAVE KIDS SWIMMING BY ONE

Education department rules prevent schools asking parents to pay for swimming lessons, however they can be charged for transport and pool entry.

One principal, who faced a $12,000 shortfall, was even fudging parent payment request forms, renaming swimming instruction as an “extra curricular” activity just to cover the costs.

“It’s like an episode of Utopia,” he said.

The Andrews Government will on Tuesday announce a $9.8 million package to fund swimming lessons in schools across the state for the next two years.

“With 43 drowning deaths in Victoria between July 2015 and June 2016, the need for water safety to be part of the curriculum is clear,” Education Minister James Merlino said.

It came after a dilemma posed by schools, which didn’t get enough funding to cover their swimming programs and couldn’t ask parents for cash, but had to teach kids to swim under government rules.

Some schools plan to cancel vital swimming lessons.

“We’re getting around it but we absolutely shouldn’t have to and it feels a little dodgy for us to go around this red tape,” said the principal, who used a “creative” measure to claw back a $12,000 shortfall.

“What we will do is describe our program not as ‘swimming instruction’ but ‘extra curricular water safety program’, and offer parents that program,” he said.

“It’s not what we should be doing.” Australian Principals Federation president Julie Podbury said some schools had planned to cancel their swimming programs.

“It causes enormous grief to principals when they can’t do what they’re meant to do with insufficient funds,” she said.

Previously, schools were allocated $50 for each Grade 6 child for swimming lessons, while a $148 million Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund was available for “eligible” students, including concession card holding families.

Mr Merlino said swimming was “a crucial life skill and that’s why we’re providing extra funding to ensure it is not a burden on schools”.

Opposition education spokesman Tim Smith said the issue had put “enormous pressure on school budgets and parents, teachers and principals are quite rightly outraged”.

[e-mail]

@ashargoon