EDUCATORS have defended swim lessons in Tasmanian public schools as new figures show increased drownings.
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Drowning deaths of Australians aged 15-24 have increased by 25 per cent during the past decade.
In Tasmania, 13 people drowned in the state's waterways during the year to June 30, an increase of one death on the five-year average.
This increase has prompted swimming teachers and lifesavers to call for increased swimming training for children.
Royal Life Saving Society Australia Tasmanian acting general manager Tracey Parry said students should finish primary school with basic water survival skills, but many did not.
She said about 30 per cent of Tasmanian children starting secondary school could not swim 50 metres or float for two minutes.
She would like all students to reach those goals, plus have CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) awareness.
Launceston Swim Centre owner and swim instructor Lindy Crack said learning to swim before going to school could also save lives, plus having awareness of currents and tides.
She said a four-year-old Launceston girl rode her bike into the Tamar River but had enough swimming training to make her way to the water's edge.
The Education Department's Learning Services (North) general manager, Laurie Andrews, said students in years 3, 4 and 5 could access swim lessons, usually during 10 consecutive days a year.
He said in the vast majority of cases, this was adequate time to teach the necessary skills.
Launceston City Council promotes safe swimming.
A spokeswoman said Launceston Aquatic had more than 1110 students at the swim school each week, running 199 classes a week and employing 15 teachers.
Students can start at six months and Launceston Aquatic this year relaunched its swim school to run for 46 weeks of the year, rather than the previous school term-based program with 39 weeks of classes a year.