Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training launched on Friday a campaign to popularize swimming lessons among students and prevent drowning in children, as the rate of child drowning in the country is currently the highest in Southeast Asia.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in Vietnam, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh said at the launching ceremony, which was organized at the Da Nang Sport University in the namesake central city.

Despite fewer drowning cases reported in recent time given efforts by authorities at all levels, about 2,000 children and students die from drowning in the country every year, Minh continued.

The rate of child drowning in Vietnam is the highest in Southeast Asia and eight times higher than developed countries.

In the first five months of 2022, 113 children drowned in 38 cases across the nation.

In most of the cases, the victims hung out and swam in dangerous areas without the supervision of adults.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh (R) during the launching ceremony of the campaign to prevent drowning in children in Da Nang City, Vietnam, June 10, 2022. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre

However, another concerning reason is that many children and students are not fully equipped with swimming and water safety skills as well as the ability to recognize accident risks, Deputy Minister Minh elaborated.

The official requested the education departments in provinces and cities to further promote drowning prevention and boost the provision of swimming lessons to students.

Ensuring the safety of children is the responsibility of the entire society, she stressed.

The Ministry of Education and Training has ordered the completion of the instruction manuals on drowning prevention and water safety for students as well as provide professional training on drowning prevention and swimming education to 400 key staff and teachers under provincial- and municipal-level education departments.

On the same day, the education ministry also announced the 2022 national student swimming tournament, which runs from June 8 to 13 in Da Nang.

This year’s tourney attracts about 700 participants who are students of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and continuing education centers from 26 provinces and cities.

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