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First ever National Education Show
28/02/2002
The first ever National Education Show for Scotland opened in the SECC in Glasgow today.
The show is being held from 28 February to 2 March 2002 and carefully targets and attract buyers, decision-makers and influencers from across the profession, and from across the country.
Educating the children of asylum seekers, the state of Glasgow's health, and education and the Internet are all on the timetable for debate.
Speaking at the Show, Minister for Education and Young People Cathy Jamieson said:
"The National Education Show for Scotland will help stimulate discussion about all aspects of education in Scotland from pre-school to university and beyond. This is an excellent opportunity for teachers and educational professionals in Scotland to work together and share good practice and ideas through the seminars, workshops and presentations. Hopefully the show will become 
an annual event in the Education calendar in Scotland.
"This is an exciting time in education. We have agreed a new pay and conditions deal for teachers, class sizes are coming down, there are more classroom assistants in our schools and there is now a nursery place available for every 3 and 4 year old in Scotland.
"In the next few weeks, we will launch a National Debate on the Future of Education. We want to get the views of those in the education sector and those outside it. The debate will allow us to celebrate the many positive aspects of Scottish education and also enable us to have frank discussions about the difficulties facing young people and their schools, and to look at ways to tackle these issues.
"Events like the National Education Show for Scotland and the National Debate will help us build an Education system for the future that will allow every pupil to reach their full potential."
The show is backed by leading professional bodies including the Educational Institute of Scotland, the Scottish School Board Association, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Association of Directors in Education in Scotland, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, the 
Education Business Partnership and the Scottish Executive.
John Todd, Chief Executive of the show organisers SITE, said the National Education Show for Scotland offered a comprehensive information service for any education professional in Scotland.
He said:
"We asked the teachers what they wanted from a new event such as this and their views have shaped NESS. Where this show will differ from others is that it covers all aspects of Scottish education and is open to everyone involved, from local authority staff and head teachers through to supervisors."
Exhibitors will display a wide range of new products and information related to all levels of teaching and education.