Education authorities in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang are expected to teach about 28,000 local students how to swim this summer vacation, which begins in late May.

The municipal Department of Education and Training on Thursday launched a campaign for safe swimming during summer break at the swimming pool of Le Quy Don High School in the central metropolis.

Many students present at the first session exhibited their swimming techniques and watched demonstrations on first-aid skills in rescuing victims of drowning.

The department has ordered local schools to encourage their students’ parents to provide the children with opportunities to swim in pools at hotels and sports facilities.

Officials hope more students are able to swim after the campaign.

The movement followed a number of cases where young children died from drowning, especially during summer break when they have no classes.

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths amongst Vietnamese under 19, with 3,500 drowning fatalities every year, according to 2017 statistics by the Ministry of Health.