Johor Education Dept all for swimming classes for students

JOHOR BARU: Johor Education Department supports the ministry’s plans to introduce mandatory swimming lessons in schools.

Its director Shaharudin Sharif said some of the schools in the state have already established their own swimming clubs with many of the students joining as members.

He however said due to the high operation cost, the schools had to cooperate with swimming pool operators to conduct training sessions. “The school administration would normally collaborate with the management of either public or private swimming pools.

“We however can’t afford to have the facility at schools. Even if we are able to build the pools, we wouldn’t be able to afford the maintenance cost,” he told a Press conference after launching English language seminar, here, on Sunday.

Nevertheless, he said the department supported the idea to provide swimming lessons to prevent drowning among students.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had on Friday said the ministry was in discussion on the needs to teach swimming in school following a suggestion by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Source: NST