The Education Ministry is concerned with the number of children below 16 years who have become victims of drowning for the period from January to June.
Minister for Education, Filipe Bole said out of the 25 people who died from drowning between January to June 8 are below 16 years and this is a figure that should have everyone concerned.
Bole said between 1999 and 2009, 35% of the drowning cases were children and were of school age.
Figures supplied by the Police revealed that for the last 11 years, 128 children under the age of 10 died from drowning compared to 64 for older children between the ages of 11 to 17.
In fact, a total of 555 people died from drowning for the same period.
Bole said it will be helpful if parents enroll their children in swimming classes.
The Western Division topped the list where more than 59% of the drowning cases occurred in 2009.
Story by: Ana Naisoro
