The Commission is advocating for a decision to be made on the implementation of the newly proposed regulations.
In Germany, swimming lessons are a compulsory part of school education to ensure water safety. However, schools rarely have their own pools, and swimming lessons are held at nearby local sports centers or public pools due to financial constraints[1]. There is no legal framework at the federal level mandating municipalities or states to build and maintain swimming pools specifically for schools or sports clubs.
Dr. Helmut Isringhaus, chairman of the FDP faction in the Saarbrücken city council, emphasizes the importance of every child in Germany learning to swim as a matter of safety and educational equity. He explains that the sufficient number of functional swimming pools is required for school and club sports.
The FDP's proposal involves close coordination with local needs. They support the idea of legally establishing the operation of such swimming pools as a mandatory public task nationwide and co-financing them from federal funds. This step, they believe, would make an important contribution to public welfare and ensure that every child, regardless of their background or location, has the opportunity to learn to swim year-round, locally.
It is important to note that the FDP's stance on swimming pools does not indicate any plans for privatization or commercialization of these facilities. Their focus remains on ensuring the opportunity for every child to learn to swim, not on generally promoting leisure pools or fun facilities.
The maintenance of existing pools in cities and regions is threatened by rising operating costs and a backlog of renovations. The closure of pools needed for swimming education is a concern, as warned by Dr. Helmut Isringhaus. The FDP faction is demanding a clear legal regulation that ensures the long-term operation of pools necessary for learning to swim.
However, this legal regulation would require support from the federal government. The FDP's stance does not provide details on any potential legislation or policies they plan to propose to achieve their goals. This lack of detail may raise questions about the feasibility and practicality of their proposal.
[1] Source: [Reference omitted for brevity]
- The FDP emphasizes the importance of every child in Germany having the opportunity to learn swimming as part of education-and-self-development and personal-growth, suggesting that the sufficient number of functional swimming pools is required for this purpose.
- The FDP proposes legally establishing the operation of swimming pools as a mandatory public task nationwide, believing that this, combined with co-funding from federal funds, would contribute to learning opportunities for every child, regardless of their background or location, and ensure the long-term operation of pools necessary for this matter.
