The potential of broadcasting in the educational and social sphere has been underutilised mainly because of a shortage of resources. Perhaps the range of interconnections which the complexity of modern society involves could be mediated through the broadcast system.
Television is an important resource for our schools.
Educational programmes designed specifically for use in first and second level schools can enrich the quality of students' educational experiences and curricular support for teachers. In this regard it is worth noting, however, that over the period 1988 to 1992 there has been a fall in educational television output by European public service broadcasters generally which apparently reflects changes in attitudes to the way in which such material should be conveyed. There is now more emphasis on the use of videocassettes rather than watching broadcasts at time slots not always convenient in the context of class scheduling in schools. The fact that some countries have handed over responsibility for the transmission of educational programmes to specialist broadcasting organisations may account in part for this apparent drop. 12.4 Life Long Learners.