The Bundestag Petitions Committee has begun advocating among the German states for the implementation of mandatory swimming courses for children aged six and older. The Committee reacted positively to a petition urging such a requirement, citing numerous accidents that occur due to inadequate swimming skills. They suggested that integrating compulsory lessons into the established school curriculum would be the most effective method.
The body expressed “great understanding” and explicitly endorsed the rationale behind teaching swimming early in life. However, because the federal government lacks jurisdiction over this matter, the Committee plans to forward the suggestion to the state parliaments simply to draw attention to the issue.
Meanwhile, DLRG spokesperson Martin Holzhause noted that Culture Ministers had already established a goal in 2017: that, ideally, all children should be able to swim safely by the age of ten to twelve. He pointed out that this objective remains difficult to achieve because of insufficient qualified staff in schools and many swimming facilities that are currently closed.
Holzhause emphasized that the federal government, the states, and local municipalities must finally adapt the public swimming pool infrastructure according to current needs. Regarding the specific mandate, the spokesperson stated that the DLRG does not advocate for a mandatory swimming course, arguing instead that the existing school compulsory requirements should already ensure that all children are taught swimming within the school system.