Swimming lessons made mandatory in Primary Schools in Greece

From September, all third- and fourth-grade pupils will attend swimming classes in pools, aiming not only to learn how to swim but also to acquire essential water safety skills. The program provides 10 two-hour sessions per trimester, with small groups (one instructor per ten children, with at least one instructor inside the water). Lessons will take place at municipal and state swimming pools, with free student transportation provided. At the end of each cycle, pupils will receive a participation certificate.

Currently, about 100 indoor pools operate nationwide, but demand highlights the need for new facilities. Plans include the installation of coastal seawater tanks, the upgrade of existing infrastructure, and the creation of temporary modular pools in areas lacking swimming facilities. In the 12 regional education directorates without pools, solutions are being developed in cooperation with local authorities.

For third and fourth grades, lessons will be taught by physical education teachers who studied swimming during their training. Where permanent staff are insufficient, substitute teachers will be hired. A minimum ratio of one teacher per ten pupils is set, with adjustments for special education according to needs.

Education Minister: “A Basic Life Skill and National Priority”

Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki stressed that from the coming school year, pupils will also learn basic lifesaving techniques.

“Our goal is for every student to achieve swimming proficiency and water safety in the coming years,” she said, adding that swimming has now become both “a basic life skill and a national priority for reducing drownings.”