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I would like to welcome you to today's press conference, which, as already mentioned, aims to inform you about the main objectives and progress in the implementation of the Action Plan for Safety in the Aquatic Environment, Prevention of Drownings and Marine Accidents, which was approved by the Council of Ministers a few months ago. At the same time, in the framework of the press conference, a Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed with the non-profit association "Safe Water Sports".
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, as an important implementing body of the Plan, participates in the planning of policies and actions for the protection of human life in the aquatic environment. Recognizing the need for constant awareness, attention and protection, our efforts are focused on strengthening the relevant education of our children and youth. To this end, we have designed and are implementing two programmes, which concern the knowledge of safety rules and the promotion of practices that save lives in the aquatic environment.
The first programme concerns "Safe Swimming for the Acquisition of Swimming Skills for Children up to 12 years old". The programme aims at teaching swimming skills to children up to 12 years old and is implemented in cooperation with the Cyprus Sports Organisation, the "Sport for All" programme and the School Medical Service of the Ministry of Health. For the acquisition of the minimum swimming skills, the non-profit association 'Safe Water Sports' has set the number of eight forty-five-minute swimming lessons, which are taught by qualified instructors-coaches of the 'Sport for All' programme.
The trainers, together with the teachers of each participating school, are responsible for the effective implementation of the Programme, focusing on safety and health issues. A doctor from the Ministry of Health is present in the swimming areas during the course of the lessons. For the effective implementation of the Programme, the first phase of its implementation, in which a total of six schools participate, was preceded by information meetings with parents/guardians, teachers and children of the participating schools, as well as sample lessons by the special advisors of the Physical Education course on the basic skills of preparing for swimming lessons.
The second programme, entitled "Educational Programme for Safety in the Aquatic Environment", is being implemented in parallel with the first and The programme, which is implemented in the context of the teaching of the curriculum of Physical Education, Life Education and Health Education, without excluding an interdisciplinary approach, involves mainly schools participating in the first programme, but allows for voluntary participation of other schools.
Seeking the best possible results, the Directorate of Primary Education, in collaboration with the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute and the non-profit association "Safe Water Sports", organised two training meetings with the participation of more than 140 primary school principals. The training was focused on how to use the Programme's materials. As a result of these meetings, in addition to the six schools implementing the first programme, eleven additional schools have registered on the Safe Water Sports website for the second programme. All schools have developed communication channels with Safe Water Sports in order to implement the Program as effectively as possible during the 2024-2025 school year. In addition, "Safe Water Sports" is planning, in cooperation with our Ministry, to organize a conference to highlight good practices in relation to this educational program.
The implementation of the Action Plan of both programmes started on 14 May 2024 and is expected to be completed in May 2025, with the participation of schools from all over Cyprus.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cyprus as an island country is known worldwide for the intense activity that develops in its aquatic environment. Recognising the benefits, but also the dangers that the sea can pose, the Government has made it a priority to take measures to protect human life in the aquatic environment. In this context, all the competent and involved bodies, whom I take this opportunity to congratulate and thank warmly for the good and beneficial cooperation they have developed so far, will continue to work so that the citizens of our country, as well as its visitors, can safely enjoy its marine wealth and the opportunities it offers.
Thank you.
(MS/AF)
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