Missing the Splash: Most Unused Swimming Vouchers after COVID-19 in Saxony-Anhalt
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Limited utilization of pool coupons reported - Least Number of Swimming Passes Used as of Now
Thousands of vouchers distributed by the state of Saxony-Anhalt to aid children in catching up on missed swimming lessons during the pandemic are largely going unused. As of April 2022, only a mere 1,037 of the approximately 8,000 swimming vouchers had been redeemed, according to the State School Office in Halle.
The Ministry of Education has extended the expiration date of this program until November 2026 and plans to distribute even more vouchers.
Hindered by pool times and schedules
"Parents show strong interest in using the vouchers, but their use is hindered by a dearth of swimming times in various regions, resulting in children being placed on waiting lists for swimming classes," explained a representative of the State School Office.
The vouchers, valued up to 150 euros, are allocated to kids who are still learning to swim or lack swimming proficiency. These evaluations are made by local swimming instructors. The vouchers can only be redeemed with course providers who possess examination authorization under German Swimming Examination Regulations.
Starting school with minimal swimming skills
The Ministry of Education acknowledges that the pandemic isn't the sole cause of the trend. An ever-increasing number of children entering school with poor swimming abilities has become a concern. The schools wrestle with teaching elementary swimming skills within regular lessons.
Furthermore, the spokesperson for the State School Office stated that no specific statistical data or regional reports on the strong or weak utilization of vouchers are currently available. He mentioned, "The vouchers are more frequently used in urban areas due to an ample presence of swimming pools, easy access, free water times, and the presence of qualified course providers for voucher redemption and examination."
- COVID-19
- Children
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Swimming Classes
- BMBF
Additional Insights
- Swimming vouchers provide financial assistance for children to attend swimming lessons, typically covering part or all of the related costs.
- They aim to help children whose learning had been interrupted due to the pandemic by encouraging participation in swimming once facilities reopened.
- The low redemption rate can be attributed to various factors such as still-restrictive health regulations, limited availability of swimming instructors and lesson slots, parental hesitation to expose their children to group activities in public pools, and regional disparities in infrastructure and resource availability.
- The community policy in Saxony-Anhalt, aimed at aiding children in their education-and-self-development through vocational training like swimming classes, has faced challenges due to the unavailability of swimming times and a scarcity of instructors, causing a low redemption rate of the vouchers.
- As part of the advocacy for children's learning, the Ministry of Education plans to expand the distribution of swimming vouchers, emphasizing that children should not start school with minimal swimming skills, with a focus on urban areas due to a higher concentration of swimming pools and qualified course providers.
