Children at a swimming school in the Kumpula outdoor swimming pool in Helsinki. Photo: Anni Reenpää / Lehtikuva
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The spike in drowning incidents this summer has raised alarm in Finland, prompting renewed calls to strengthen swimming education for children. Authorities say falling skill levels and access barriers to affordable lessons are putting lives at risk.
According to the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation (FSL), only 55 percent of sixth graders reported being able to swim in 2022. This marks a historic low, down from 76 percent in 2016.
Kristiina Heinonen, Executive Director of FSL, told Yle that swimming skills among children and adolescents have clearly declined. The urgency increased in July when 28 people drowned across the country, compared to 16 in the same month last year. Several of the cases involved children.
Swimming schools supported by municipalities exist, but demand far outweighs supply. In Helsinki, courses offered in districts like Jakomäki and Pirkkola cost around 46 euros for eight sessions. These fill quickly, leaving families to consider private options which typically cost between 200 and 260 euros per semester.
“Those children who do not have a swimming culture in their family and whose parents do not take them swimming” are particularly at risk, said Tuuli Salospohja, sports services manager for the City of Helsinki.
She noted that immigrant background alone does not explain the trend. Broader lifestyle changes are also at play.
“It is perhaps no longer seen as important as it used to be,” Salospohja said. “Swimming skills should still be a basic civic skill.”
To address the issue, the City of Helsinki joined a regional pilot programme offering free “pop-up” swimming lessons this summer in cooperation with Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi, the FSL, and FitPit Oy.
More than 4,000 places were made available. According to Laura Manninen, CEO of Fitpit, initial participation was limited by cold water temperatures early in the season. Numbers increased later in the summer.
“I have never met a child who doesn’t like the water, once they get a taste of learning,” Manninen said. “This is a good low-threshold way to try out swimming skills and swimming lessons.”
Despite positive feedback, Salospohja emphasised that pilot projects are not enough. She called for a systemic approach through schools and early education services.
“The solution lies in schools and early childhood education. From there, we can comprehensively reach all age groups and all families. We need to get more swimming lessons and water skills there, starting from a young age.”
Authorities are expected to evaluate the pilot programme and consider expanding access to swimming instruction through public education.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
