The curriculum guidelines stipulate that Japanese children (students) should learn to swim. What level of content should children have in swimming lessons? According to the curriculum guidelines, the target is to play in water in the first and second grades of elementary school, to float in water in the third and fourth grades, and to be able to swim 25 to 50 meters using the crawl or breaststroke in the fifth and sixth grades. The facilities for pools are stipulated in the Fundamental Law of Education, the School Education Law, and the Enforcement Regulations of the School Education Law. Elementary and junior high schools in each municipality are required to install pools. The maintenance costs are becoming a burden for municipalities with limited budgets. School pools were developed during the second baby boom period in the early 1970s and 1980s. However, after 30 to 40 years of use, full renovations are required, and many municipalities are facing aging. The number of schools that can use pools on campus is gradually decreasing.
Starting in fiscal 2024, Kyoto City will begin a trial of outsourcing swimming lessons to private businesses at some elementary and junior high schools in the city. In order to address issues such as facility expenses and the burden on teachers, pool instruction was introduced through outsourcing to private businesses. Kyoto City conducted a survey of children and students, parents, and teachers and staff regarding the introduction and case studies. In this survey, more than 90% of all respondents said they would like the practice to continue in the next fiscal year and beyond. It is known that private outsourcing and private swimming lessons reduce the burden on teachers, and in the long term, the cost is cheaper than maintaining and managing school pools. There is also a growing trend to outsource to private businesses and learn practical skills in pools outside of school.
Japan has not only poor municipalities, but also rich municipalities. Tama City in Tokyo announced that swimming lessons at all 17 elementary schools in the city will be held in indoor pools outside of school. This is due to changes in the environment. Tama City conducted an experimental use of indoor pools in fiscal 2021. This was intended to prevent heatstroke among children and reduce the burden on teachers, such as coordinating with other classes. It is a rare case nationwide that 17 schools will be conducting swimming lessons outside of school. 58 million yen has been allocated to the proposed 2022 budget for expenses such as outsourcing fees for instruction. Swimming lessons were held at the city’s heated pool, Aqua Blue Tama, and two private facilities in the city. This has contributed to improving the children’s swimming ability. It has also been highly praised for eliminating the need to adjust lessons to deal with weather conditions. It has also been well received, as it has reduced the cost of water circulation equipment that was necessary in school pools and the burden on teachers to operate it. Outsourcing to the private sector appears to be an option that can solve financial issues and the problem of securing swimming instructors.
