Promoting Marine Education in Taiwan: Cultivating a Water-Friendly Culture and Water Safety for Children and Youth

Introduction

Taiwan is an island surrounded by ocean; however, for a long time, there has been a clear gap between Taiwan’s water-friendly culture and its geographical environment. The warning “Don’t go swimming, it’s dangerous” accompanied many people’s childhoods. This fear of and unfamiliarity with water can ironically lead to accidents when people occasionally approach water bodies without sufficient safety knowledge. In recent years, the Ministry of Education has promoted the “Marine Education Policy White Paper,” counties and cities have actively implemented swimming education, and private water safety promotion organizations have become increasingly active. A water-friendly cultural revolution starting from schools is quietly changing the relationship between Taiwanese people and water.

The Policy Context of Marine Education in Taiwan

Taiwan’s marine education policy has made significant progress in recent years. In 2017, the Ministry of Education published the “Marine Education Policy White Paper 2.0,” listing marine literacy as an important core competency and requiring schools at all levels to integrate marine education into their curricula.

Among these, the most impactful policy is the “elementary school swimming graduation threshold” promoted by various counties and cities, which requires sixth-grade students to pass a swimming test of a specified distance before graduation (standards vary by county/city, mostly 15–25 meters). Although the standard may seem modest, its symbolic significance is substantial—ensuring every child possesses the most basic water self-rescue ability.

Core Concepts of Child Water Safety

Children and adolescents account for a considerable proportion of Taiwan’s annual drowning incidents. Many drowning accidents do not occur in the open ocean but near seemingly safe water bodies such as drainage ditches, streams, and swimming pool edges. Below are the core water safety concepts that parents and educators should most urgently convey to children and adolescents:

The “Three Don’ts and One Must” Water Safety Principles:

• Don’t Go Alone: Never go to any water body alone (including rivers, lakes, and beaches); adult supervision is required
• Don’t Act Impulsively: Don’t jump into the water impulsively—no matter how hot the weather or how much you want to swim, check the water safety conditions first before entering
• Don’t Overestimate Yourself: Don’t push beyond your limits; refuse challenges in water conditions that exceed your swimming ability
• Must Wear: Wear life jackets or flotation assistance equipment when needed (rafting, kayaking, snorkeling)

Basic Skills for Observing Water Safety:

• Understand the “flag warning system”: Green flag (safe), yellow flag (caution), red flag (no entry into water)
• Recognize the visual characteristics of rip currents: darker color, foamy surface, different from surrounding wave patterns—if caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shoreline to escape, do not fight it head-on
• Know “what to do if you fall into the water”: stay calm, float on your back to maintain buoyancy, call for help loudly, and wait for rescue—do not struggle desperately, as struggling only accelerates sinking

Private Sector Promotion: Taiwanese Water Safety Organizations Worth Knowing

Beyond government policies, several active private organizations in Taiwan continuously promote water safety education and swimming advocacy:

• Taiwan Water Volunteer Association: Trains water volunteers and conducts water safety awareness campaigns at beaches and streams across the country
• Chinese Taipei Swimming Association: The highest governing body for competitive swimming and promotion in Taiwan, assisting in organizing large-scale promotional events annually
• County and City Lifesaving Associations: Localized water safety education promotion, also providing lifeguard training and certification
• Regional Surfing Associations: Centered on surfing, while actively promoting wave knowledge and open-water swimming safety culture

How to Cultivate a Water-Friendly Culture at Home

A healthy water-friendly culture is not built from fear but cultivated through proper understanding and appropriate exposure. Parents play the most important role in children’s water safety education.

A Guide to Building a Water-Friendly Family Culture:

• Introduce children to swimming education as early as possible; early childhood (ages 3–5) is the golden period for developing water adaptability, but it must be conducted by certified instructors in a safe environment
• Discuss water activities with a positive attitude: rather than overemphasizing “danger,” teach “how to enjoy safely”
• Parents lead by example: take children to explore different water bodies, explain safety rules, and demonstrate correct entry and observation methods firsthand
• Take children to a licensed beach or swimming facility at least once a year, making water activities a natural part of family life
• Learn basic first aid skills: every family member should understand the basic steps of water rescue first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Conclusion

Taiwan is an island, and our understanding of and respect for the ocean should be as deep as our affection for the land. Marine education is not just a swimming lesson; it is a long-term project to build a healthy relationship between a generation and water. From policy to family, from schools to communities, every effort is making Taiwan a truly ocean-embracing island nation. Let our children step into the water with knowledge and confidence, rather than approaching the water’s edge with fear and unfamiliarity.

Related Reading

• Parent-Child Interaction in Family Swimming: A Guide to Parent-Child Classes at Taiwan Swimming Pools
• The Best Age for Children to Learn Swimming and Course Selection: The Current State of Swimming Education in Taiwan
• Parent-Child Swimming Training Plans: Designing Workouts to Swim with Your Kids
• Taiwan Beach Culture and Swimming Safety: Understanding Wave Conditions and Rip Currents