Ward retired from his job at Tahuna Intermediate last year and has been appointed as the Skills to Swimming co-ordinator at Sport Otago.
The University of Otago College of Education has dropped the teaching of swimming skills to teacher students from its curriculum.
Sport Otago has taken over this role and it is Ward's job to make sure that every school in Dunedin has staff with the skills to teach swimming.
"It is essential that we address the problem and make sure that all children in our area are taught the basic skills to survive and feel safe and comfortable in the water," Ward said.
Ward said the Dunedin-based initiative had attracted nationwide attention for a schools-based programme that provides positive, measurable benefits in improving water safety and learn-to-swim skills.
This trial project will target about 10,000 primary school children from 9 to 11 over a three- year period.
There is significant financial assistance from the Dunedin City Council for pool access fees and swimming tuition costs.
"Finance has been identified as one of the barriers to learning to swim," Ward explained. "Schools have been quick to sign up their interest and commitment to the programme."
Support from the Otago Community Trust has enabled Swimming New Zealand Start courses for teachers to be planned for teachers in all 70 Dunedin primary schools.
"It is expected to make a real difference in upskilling Dunedin's teachers in swimming tuition," Ward said.
"This will overcome the barrier of teachers not being trained in teaching swimming in recent years."
The first course was held at Moana Pool yesterday with 10 teachers instructed by Chris Morgan from Swimming New Zealand.
The course is being backed by the Dunedin City Council and the plan is to ultimately have 150 teachers in the greater Dunedin area able to teach basic swimming skills.
