Disparities revealed in swimming education across Swedish schools

Learning to swim is a fundamental skill that schools are expected to teach, as swimming instruction is part of the national curriculum in Sweden. However, a recent study reveals significant discrepancies in the implementation of swimming education across various schools.

Erik Hansson, a cultural geographer at Uppsala University, conducted interviews with 111 physical education teachers nationwide. The findings indicate that while some schools have active and regular swimming programs, others lack swimming instruction altogether. Factors contributing to this disparity include proximity to swimming pools, the need to share facilities with multiple schools, and varying financial priorities within the institutions.

Socioeconomic backgrounds of students also play a critical role, with children from wealthier families—who may have summer homes or access to private swimming lessons—having better opportunities to learn how to swim. In contrast, children from less affluent areas, whose parents may themselves lack swimming skills, often rely solely on school-based instruction for this essential capability.

The lack of oversight from the School Inspectorate exacerbates the situation. While the inspectorate does respond to individual complaints or issues raised, there is no routine inspection to ensure that all schools are providing swimming education as mandated.

To pass physical education in grade six, students must meet specific swimming competency criteria. This includes being able to submerge and then swim 200 meters in deep water, with a portion of that distance swum on their back. Failure to pass this swim test can result in students not receiving a passing grade in physical education.