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Sofia Zacharakis: Swimming Instruction Expands to Fourth Gradetranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

Over 52,000 students participated in swimming lessons during the 2025-2026 school year, marking the highest enrollment since the institutional framework for teaching was established. The continued rise in participation confirms the program’s dynamic success and the Ministry of Education, Religion and Sports’ steadfast commitment to investing in life-saving skills, aiming to enhance water safety, prevent risks, and ensure equitable access to physical activity for all children.

Minister of Education, Religion and Sports Sofia Zacharakis stated:

“The fact that over 52,000 students participated in swimming lessons this year—far exceeding the target of 50,000 we set—represents a significant endorsement that an educational policy with clear social impact is embraced by the school community.

For a country like Greece, intrinsically linked to the sea, swimming is not merely another Physical Education subject. It is a vital life skill, essential for children and future adults, reinforced by…”

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Radu Gheorghiu

It's good that it extends to the 4th grade, that 52,000 children have already taken lessons this year is a serious number. Here in Sibiu, the water is cold, but at least they learn not to drown if they reach the sea. How many extra swimming teachers did they hire for this?

Andrés López

I am glad that they extend swimming to fourth grade, because 52,000 children is already a significant figure. Here in Valencia we also have a lot of sea and it is good that they learn early not to drown. Have they hired more teachers as Radu says?

Sophia Evans

It's good they're expanding swimming to fourth grade — those 52,000 kids already participating is impressive. My son learned to swim in public school here in the Bay Area and it really stuck with him on our hikes near the coast. I wonder how many extra instructors they needed too, like Radu asked.

George Smith

Yeah, expanding to fourth grade makes sense — kids that age are old enough to really focus but still young enough it feels like play. The 52,000 number is solid. My daughter’s in Grade 3 here and her school just started a short swimming block; she came home talking about floating on her back like it was the best thing ever. Did your son keep swimming after that school program or was it mostly the hikes that stuck?

Maria Zielińska

It's good that they extend it to the fourth grade, because at this age children really listen and are not afraid of water like younger ones. 52,000 is a large number, you can see that Greek kids are close to the sea and that makes sense. At our parish camp at the lake last year, several mothers also said that their children only learned to swim at school.

Jelena Marković

Here in Serbia, this would be gold, especially since many children from the interior never see the sea. 52,000 students is a serious number, and the extension to the fourth grade makes sense - then they already listen and are less afraid. I wonder how many pools they had to provide for so many children.

Michał Kaczmarek

I agree, in the fourth grade children listen better and panic less around water. In Gdańsk, during parish trips to the seaside, I also see that many children only learn the basics at school, because no one takes them regularly at home. And how old is your daughter, Maria?

Carlos García

Yes, I agree with you Andrés, extending it to fourth grade is a good idea because at that age they already gain confidence quickly. Here in Valencia the sea also surrounds us and more than one person was saved because they learned at a young age. Have you seen if school swimming pools have increased in your area or are they still using municipal ones?

Miloš Obradović

Here in Niš, we had a couple of actions through the Red Cross, but that's a drop in the bucket - it really should be regular in school. Jelena, have you heard if some municipalities in our country are trying to create similar programs at least in the summer in rivers or swimming pools? 52,000 is really impressive, I agree.

Mark Johnson

That's a smart point about the instructors — scaling up to fourth grade must have required a good number more. My grandson in Chicago picked up swimming through his school's program a couple years back, and it's made family trips to the lake a lot less nerve-wracking. How old was your son when he started?

Agnieszka Kaczmarek

I agree, fourth grade is a good time because the child can focus on instructions. Here in Hajnówka, at the parish swimming pool, I also see that the older ones pick up the backstroke faster. How many children from your class swam at this lake camp?

Ewa Kaczmarek

Yes, in the fourth grade children listen better and are less distracted. Here in Krakow, at the parish swimming pool, I also notice that they catch the backstroke faster than the breaststroke. How many children from Hajnówka went to this camp by the lake?

Jan Szymański

Yes, in the fourth grade it is really easier for them to concentrate, and in Gdańsk we see the same during parish activities. My granddaughters' backstroke was also faster than the breaststroke. As for Hajnówka, I don't know how many children went, but only three from our class showed up for the camp at the lake.

In our parish school in Krakow, I also notice that in the fourth grade it is easier for them to focus on the swimming pool. My niece started this year and the backstroke was actually faster than the breaststroke, just like your granddaughters. How many children from your class ultimately went to this camp?

In my school in Krakow, at parish swimming pools in the fourth grade, children also keep their attention better, especially when the water is warm. As for Hajnówka - I wonder if the kids there have easier access to the lakes, because there are not many people willing to go on longer trips here on the Vistula River.

Tomasz Nowak

In our school in Gdańsk, at parish swimming pools, in the fourth grade I also see that it is easier for them to concentrate than in the third grade. My granddaughter did the same - she mastered the backstroke in two weeks, but the breaststroke was difficult for her. And how many children from your class ultimately went to this camp at the lake?

In my city in Gdańsk, the parish swimming pool also works for fourth graders and when the water temperature is above 28 degrees, the children actually concentrate longer. As for Hajnówka, children there actually have lakes under their noses, but here on the Vistula River it is probably more the fear of cold water than the lack of desire.