In light of schools being shut for the foreseeable future, our national broadcaster has ramped up their programming and resources for children to concentrate on while at home.
One glimmer of hope for those of us who have a house full of school children is that RTÉ's educational programmes will return to our screens from today, Monday, January 11.
The new range of programmes will air across RTÉ television, RTÉ Player, RTÉ Radio 1, 2FM, and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. RTÉ.ie will also have extra resources for school children too. The national broadcaster promises that the needs of all school-going children, including Junior and Leaving Cert students, will be catered for.
RTÉ’s Home School Hub and After School Hubwill return to RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from today. It will be delivering three hours of television daily. Young viewers can find John, Ray, Cliona, Seamus and all the gang on RTÉ2 between 10 am and noon. All worksheets, podcasts and third-party content will be available online (here) and can also be watched back on the RTÉ Player.
Each week on RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, Evelyn O'Rourke will present the Drivetime Study Hub. These special shows will air each Tuesday and Wednesday at 6.30 pm, and will be an interactive half-hour of advice and support for second-level students, particularly those preparing for State exams.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta will host a regular slot on Tús Áite each week. Fachtna Ó Drisceoil will ensure parents and young people at home are getting the right tips and advice during these tough times.
For those who are preparing for State exams, RTÉ2 will be airing all Shakespeare productions during Sundays in January. For Leaving Cert students, this includes either The Tempest, King Lear, or Othello; while for Junior Cert students the choices are A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet.
There's also a dedicated Junior Cycle website available with extra resources for those due to undertake the Junior Certificate this June.
RTÉ's educational programmes and resources will be a much-needed source of help for many households across the country in 2021. In this uncertain time for all, at least we now know where to head to if we think our school children need that extra push with their school work.
Be sure to keep up to date on all RTÉ's educational programmes and resources by checking their dedicated Home School Hub over the coming months.
