Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has criticised the Scottish Government’s decision to withdraw a £1.72m investment programme to support school swimming lessons.
Swimming is not a compulsory part of the curriculum in Scotland, unlike in England but this “Top-Up” fund supported local authorities to deliver lessons for pupils.
Murdo believes that a lack of funding will result in pupils from deprived backgrounds missing out on swimming tuition.
Governing body Scottish Swimming has also said it is concerned this could lead to a greater number of adults who lacked confidence in water and said around 40% of pupils reach high school age as non-swimmers.
Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“This is a really disappointing decision which will inevitably mean pupils from more deprived backgrounds will no longer get swimming lessons.
“Swimming is a great way to get fit and is also much easier to learn as a child and without this funding more and more children are going to grow up as non-swimmers.
“To have the Scottish Government cut swimming funding just a year after the Commonwealth Games where we had star performers in the pool like Ross Murdoch is extremely disappointing.
“Scotland is producing world class athletes at the moment, but without encouraging more children into the pool, there is a real risk that this won’t continue.”