From a DfEE Press Release
Television has a key role to play in widening access to education and making learning fun for people of all ages, Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett said today. Speaking at the Royal Television Society’s Educational Television Awards in Piccadilly, Mr Blunkett said:
"Television is turning passive viewers into active learners. For example:
* Newsround became the first news bulletin for children in 1972. It has inspired similar news programmes for children around the globe. It covers news stories children are interested in, which would not be seen on other bulletins - I wish they were. These include entertainment, school issues, the environment, space, science, animals and sport.
* Blue Peter has been educating us about ecology, history and geography for over 40 years; and
* Channel Four and Mersey TV are using Brookside to encourage people to read, through the Brookie Basics literacy campaign.
* the Open University is leading the world in learning, with 250,000 students a year watching television programmes as part of their studies;
* documentary channels like Discovery, History and National Geographic are showing that the growth of cable, satellite and digital television can contribute to education too: and
* digital television can raise standards of performance and the quality of the learning experience. We are creating sample modules for GCSEs to show how material prepared for digital transmission can enhance learning in the classroom and at home.
The press release continues at
