Free swimming classes for children in island districts of Ho Chi Minh City

Many students going to school for the first time were afraid of water and were enthusiastically supported by the teacher - Photo: DIEU QUI

Behind the school, a 1.2m deep swimming pool is where the children will learn. Classes are held throughout the school year. During the year, in the afternoon after class, the children will stay at school for an extra hour to learn swimming. This subject can also be combined with physical education class.

During the summer, teachers still spend time teaching swimming to their students twice a week, while the children, even during the summer break, eagerly come to class with the desire to learn to swim early.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung - a physical education teacher, also one of the two people teaching swimming - said that there are two classes a week, each one an hour with about 25 students, mainly teaching grades 3, 4, and 5. However, students in other grades who want to learn can still register.

Mr. Pham Thanh Thoi, who regularly takes his first grader to swimming classes, believes that teaching swimming is a good idea because in Ly Nhon commune in particular or Can Gio in general, there are mostly lakes, rivers, and seas. Therefore, teaching children to swim is to encourage them to swim well and prevent drowning.

"My child can swim now. There are a few ponds near our house. When we have free time, we go down to the pond to let him swim so he can get used to the outside environment," said Mr. Thoi.

After nearly a month of studying, from a little girl who thought swimming was very difficult to learn, now Lam Ngoc My Khanh (preparing to go to 5th grade) knows how to swim breaststroke, skim the water and is practicing freestyle swimming.

My Khanh shared: "At first, I found it difficult and scary. But now that I can swim, I feel more confident. I also met many new friends here. I plan to teach those who don't know how to swim when I know how to swim."

Students are divided into groups, good swimmers will teach the weaker ones - Photo: AN VI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lop-day-boi-mien-phi-cho-tre-o-huyen-dao-tp-hcm-20240812112110319.htm