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© dpa
About 6,400 children in Berlin took part in the free intensive swimming courses offered by the Berlin State Sports Federation during this year's school break.
A total of 4,834 swimming badges were earned, according to the Department of Education. Of these, 1,601 were "Seepferdchen" badges, 2,486 were bronze badges and 747 were silver badges.
The courses are aimed at students in grades 4 through 10 who want to improve their swimming skills or learn to swim safely. The program is funded by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family Affairs. According to the information provided, the program also included inclusive courses for children and teenagers with and without disabilities. The courses are free and are scheduled to be offered again in 2027 during the Easter, summer and fall breaks. According to the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), an estimated 40 percent of all elementary school children in Germany cannot swim safely by the end of elementary school. The data indicates that 20 percent cannot swim at all.