STATISTICS show 128 children under the age of 10 drowned in the last 11 years.
Between January and June this year, eight children below the age of 16 lost their lives in rivers or at sea.
The escalating number of children that have died through drowning has prompted the call by the Ministry of Education for parents, caregivers and guardians to mount vigilance and supervision of children.
Police statistics show 64 children aged between 11 to 17 years died from drowning in the last 11 years.
With the second term school holidays scheduled to start on August 20, police have urged parents ,guardians and caregivers to devise work plans to keep their children occupied.
Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said parents and guardians must enusre their children were safe and supervised at all times.
It would be helpful if parents enrolled their children in swimming classes, he said.
Of the 49 drowning cases in 2009, 31 were Fijians, 11 were Indo Fijians and seven of other ethnicities.
The Western Division topped the list with more than 59 per cent of drowning cases in 2009.
Education Ministry head Filipe Bole reminded parents to accompany their children when going for picnics.
"For those who still use the well, great caution should be taken and children should not be allowed out in the rain to play in drains and culverts.
"Proper planning of activities for students during the school holidays will help protect them from harmful situations," Mr Bole said.
This year's national drowning toll is 25.
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