TG4 is delighted to announce that a new programme, Cúla4 ar Scoil will commence on Monday 20 April 2020, broadcasting on weekdays at 10a.m. All schools are currently closed under Covid-19 restrictions. This programme will cater for primary school children who attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools, in the event of an extension to public health measures which may mean that schools remain closed for a further period.
The half-hour programme will be broadcast from Scoil na bhForbacha in the Connemara Gaeltacht and will be presented from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. by primary school teachers, Caitríona Ní Chualáin and Fiachra Ó Dubhghaill, with contributions from teachers and facilitators from other communities and Gaeltacht regions, incorporating a range of dialects.
The programme will have a weekly theme and the lesson objectives and learning outcomes drawn from the primary school curriculum will be presented in an engaging and interactive manner. Core curriculum subjects will be included such as Irish, Mathematics, History and Geography, and there will also be an emphasis on creativity, the arts, oral traditions, health and wellbeing.
During the programme Cúla4 ar Scoil, children will be invited to participate at home and will be asked to send in pictures or videos of their work to the programme. The content will also be available online on Cula4.com and on youtube Cúla4.
TG4 will also broadcast an additional schedule before and after Cúla4 ar Scoil from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. each day, which will include programmes with educational themes including ‘Bia Linn’, Ár Scéal, ‘Am Foghlama le Timmy’, ‘Is Eolaí Mé’ and ‘WAC’.
Cúla4 ar Scoil will be produced by Fíbín, an award winning production company recognised for its productions for young people such as ‘Is Eolaí Mé’, ‘Is Mise’ and ‘Saol faoi Shráid’. Darach Ó Tuairisc will produce the series together with primary teacher, Ethel Burke who has stage, television and acting experience. The Telegael crew will record the series.
The series will be funded by TG4, and advice on the educational content and curriculum will be provided by the Department of Education and Skills, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál, An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), and Gaeloideachas. The advice and experience of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta will also be included in the production.
Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD welcomed the initiative: ‘The production of this programme is a credit to TG4 in supporting the continuity of children’s learning in Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools, who are currently studying at home due to Covid-19 restrictions. I would like to thank the teachers and network of people who managed to get this project together under difficult circumstances and tight deadlines. This programme will help enrich learning at home and will serve as a wonderful additional learning support for children’.
Muireann Ní Mhóráin Chief Executive, COGG welcomed the selection of Fíbín to undertake the series for TG4, ‘It is great that a company with expertise and experience, such as Fíbín, has been selected to produce Cúla4 ar Scoil for TG4. COGG will support this initiative in any way it can’.
Siobhán Ní Bhrádaigh, Commissioning Editor for Young People in TG4 said: ‘TG4 is grateful for the support that this project has received from all of the Educational bodies and parties connected with the project (The Department of Education and Skills, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál, COGG, PDST and Gaeloideachas) and Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, and everyone else in the public who contacted TG4 with suggestions in relation to this initiative. We are happy that we can facilitate and help children who are receiving their schooling through the medium of Irish, and hope that Cúla4 ar Scoil will be a help to all families at this time’.
Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, Chief Executive Gaeloideachas greatly welcomes this initiative:
“This initiative by TG4 will create an enjoyable learning experience through Irish for children who are used to being immersed in the language. It will help create a positive experience for them in their learning, and it will also be a great resource for teachers to use content from the programmes to include in their work plans for pupils in their homes’.
Sorcha Ní Chéilleachair, Head of Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta: ‘This initiative recognises the importance of Gaeltacht and all-Irish education in the system, and we are extremely happy that a programme of this calibre will be broadcast on TG4. This will be a positive boost for parents whose first language in the home is Irish at a time when such a boost is needed’.
The Teachers:
Caitríona Ní Chualáin
Caitríona Ní Chualáin from Indreabhán, Connemara is a primary school teacher, and teaches in Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich has a strong emphasis on music and nurtures a love for Irish Language and culture amongst its students. Caitríona also works for TG4 as a continuity and weather presenter which she really enjoys.
Fiachra Ó Dubhghaill
Fiachra Ó Dubhghaill is from Cork and teaches in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Galway City. He has a Masters in Drama and Theatre Studies from National University of Ireland, Galway. He has had acting parts in plays such as ‘Married to the Sea’ and ‘An Triail’, as well as television roles in ‘Ros na Rún’ and ‘Corp agus Anam’. Fiachra also enjoys sport and music.
