PETALING JAYA: Schools may be the place children go to learn things but teaching water safety, especially swimming, cannot fall solely on the shoulders of teachers and schools, said Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
She added that adults must also take responsibility for creating safer environments.
“We cannot expect children to protect themselves through awareness alone,” she said, adding that they need to know that even familiar rivers, drains, ponds and floodwaters can be dangerous.
Noor Azimah said schools should also provide opportunities to learn basic swimming skills if they have access to facilities and qualified instructors.
“Every child should receive age-appropriate water safety education, including recognising hazards, understanding personal limitations, floating where appropriate, and knowing how to alert adults or emergency services,” she added.
Acknowledging the importance of teaching water safety, SMK Damansara Jaya Parent-Teacher Association chairman Akmar Kassim said safety, cost and practicality remain concerns.
“There must already be an established structure in place for supervision, logistics, qualified instructors and emergency response.
“On top of that, not every school has the same facilities, capabilities and manpower,” he said, adding that this would lead to less fortunate students missing out on the lessons due to the costs involved.
He also said there was a need to go beyond awareness campaigns by talking to children about the risks involved in playing with water and what to do when they actually find themselves in that situation.
“Schools could work with organisations such as the Civil Defence, Fire Department or qualified swimming instructors to conduct practical demonstrations and water safety programmes,” he added.
While teaching water safety to students is important, National Union of Teaching Profession of Malaysia secretary-general Fouzi Singon said it should not be included as its own subject in the curriculum.
Instead, he added, it can be introduced through existing Physical and Health Education lessons, without necessarily creating a new subject.
“The priority should be a practical, safe and inclusive approach that builds children’s awareness and skills without placing unrealistic demands on schools or teachers,” he said, adding that teachers should not automatically be expected to act as swimming instructors.
“We must consider the time required, the availability of swimming facilities, trained instructors and the additional financial implications,” he said.
He said parents should also play an active role by encouraging swimming lessons outside school where feasible and reinforcing water safety awareness at home.
“Some children may develop basic swimming skills within two to three months of regular lessons, but progress depends on individual ability, training frequency and the quality of instruction,” he added.
