In Taiwan, where many residents live near water yet low swimming abilities prevail, Tseng Ching-ming is leading a transformative ocean safety class at Kenting Elementary. Most Taiwanese face deep-rooted fears of the ocean, attributed to parental protectiveness and risk aversion rooted in historical context. Tseng's lessons are an essential attempt to instill confidence in the water among students, who desire more than just confined classroom learning. A broader societal push, supported by teachers and families, aims to enhance swimming skills and to combat high drowning rates among the youth of Taiwan.
Classes like Tseng's rely on dedicated individuals to shift swimming culture in Taiwan, which faces low swimming abilities and entrenched fears of the ocean.
The push for ocean safety education is driven by committed teachers, families defying societal norms, and a vision to change Taiwan's high drowning rates.
Despite being near the coast, Taiwan has historically low swimming skills, revealing a significant cultural shift towards promoting ocean safety among the youth.
An Ocean University survey from 2010 indicated that only 44% of Taiwanese reported being able to swim, highlighting the urgency of swimming education.
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