Thousands of kids miss out on critical school swimming lessons as dozens of WA schools cut classes

Thousands of children from more than 40 WA schools missed out on half their scheduled swimming lessons this year because of a shortage of instructors. The extent of the shortfall was laid bare this week, as figures released in Parliament revealed 42 schools were forced to slash their in-term swimming programs from two weeks to one week. It also emerged the problem was even worse last year when students from 84 schools had their lessons cut back. The Cook Government’s response to a question from Liberal MP Donna Faragher noted the figure of 42 schools was half of those with a modified program in 2023 — despite an increase in the number of schools taking part. Ms Faragher asked the question after The West Australian revealed in October that six schools had their lessons slashed in the first two weeks of the school term. In early November, midway through Term 4, kids at Swan View Primary School were told their lessons would be halved for a third year in a row. Like many schools, Swan View PS was given only a few days’ notice its program would be cut — despite receiving an assurance last year it would not happen again. Only one other school — West Northam Primary School — has had its program cut for three consecutive years. Richard Kaub, who chairs the Swan View PS council, said the school was in a disadvantaged area so in-term swimming classes offered the only chance many children would get to learn vital water safety skills. “I understand there is a national shortage of swimming instructors but surely the pain can be shared around fairly,” he said. Mr Kaub said kids who lived closer to the coast would get more opportunities to be exposed to water-based activities. “Towards the hills there’s a lot less opportunity for them to do that,” he said. “And if they do find themselves in the water, and they’ve had virtually no water safety training, they could be in dire straits.” The Education Department said the 42 schools which had their programs cut comprised just five per cent of participating schools. It previously said it was continuing to recruit instructors and working to provide lesson venues for as many children as possible. The cutbacks came as Royal Life Saving WA raised fears in its annual report that Australians’ swimming ability was “going backwards”, with many children missing out on lessons and graduating from primary school unable to swim 50 metres. In-school swimming lessons are not compulsory in WA schools but are strongly encouraged. WA Primary Principals Association president Niel Smith said school leaders were aware of the importance of teaching children to swim, but believed it should be a joint responsibility shared by parents. “There is a need to balance community expectations with the principal’s ability to manage all of the requests placed upon schools now,” he said. “A large amount of organisational planning takes place behind the scenes that can see schools incur additional costs. “This includes restructuring school timetables, duty rosters and organising additional support time for students with disabilities, to ensure their inclusion.”