The New Nation - Internet Edition

' Learn swimming, save life'' -- No , this is not an advertisement of a Swimming Training Academy. Actually, this is a universal truth. A man who does not know how to swim can understand its utilities when he fells down in water. 99% of city bound children in our riverian country of this age do not know how to swim . Class, pressure of study, idleness etc. are the main obstacles to learn swimming of our children. As a result, cent percent of our people are in a risk of death because of not learning swimming.

The matter may be worthless to the most of the people. One may think, I won't go to the water - then how death! If you do not know how to swim, you will fear to bath in Cox's Bazar Sea Beach, the greatest sea beach of the world or on the way of your native village, if there is any accident your bus may sink in road side tank or pond. There is also the fear of sinking the launch or the boat. Swimming may be a support to save your life at that time. Then why don't you learn swimming? I had read a story named, ''The Boatman and The Gentleman'' in my boyhood. In that story , the gentleman said to the boatman,'' O! Boatman, Do you know mathematics?''. In the negative response of the boatman, the gentleman said,''20% of your life has been fruitless.'' Thus various portion of the life of the boatman had been fruitless according to the gentleman as he did not know geography, physics, chemistry etc. At that time, there was roaring of the cloud as a mark of storm. The boatman said to the gentleman,'' Do you know how to swim ?'' In the negative response of the gentleman, the boatman said,'' I think 100% of your life will be fruitless now.''

For this reason, swimming should be compulsary in school curriculam to avoid the risk of drowning. Every student has to face practical examination on swimming after the first term examination of class six. No student will be declared as class six passed until he/she passes the practical examination on swimming. That means , if any student does not pass in the practical examination on swimming, he/she must read in the same class until his/her passes. I hope, the authority concerned will think deeply over the matter and will take necessary steps to educate the nation in proper education.

Aminul Islam Dhali

Dhaka