People are being encouraged to turn out tomorrow for a two-day Education Expo.

The event taking place tomorrow and Saturday will comprise of workshops, school exhibitions, vendor displays and various panel discussions, as well as student awards and student entertainment.

The whole community, in addition to the Island's educators, are invited to participate, and Government backbencher and former principal Dale Butler will even be putting on his own workshop presentation.

Education and Development Minister Paula Cox told the House of Assembly last Friday that there would be both local and overseas participation in the expo, with some noted educators taking part to offer discussion and training.

And she said the end goal was to bring all stakeholders of education together, including parents, and to create an atmosphere of open discussion in order to ensure a quality education for all.

Ms Cox said: "I hope members of this Honourable House together with the public will come out and participate and attend the 2002 Education Expo.

"I am exhilarated. Schools, standards, support from the community, and the family, all add up to success for our students and our educators.

"Please let me encourage persons to come out and participate and contribute in the 2002 Education Expo. We all have a stake in the desired end-goal which is a quality education product for all. "Working in partnership, we can all be winners."

The Minister said there would be free child-care for those attending the workshops or taking part in the student awards and entertainment, and admission to the event, which will be held at Bermuda College, is free.

Among the international participants will be Mychal Wynn and Ida Goodwin Woolfolk. Mr. Wynn, a noted educator, will be the keynote speaker at the gala banquet and awards ceremony on Saturday night.

He will also return in the early part of next week to conduct an expanded training session for the middle school teachers.

Ms Woolfolk is the assistant to the superintendent of community outreach in the St. Louis public schools system.

Ms Cox said tickets were still available for the banquet on Saturday night.

She added: "I am so very proud of all those who have contributed and worked so hard to make this Education Expo a success. There is a real roll call of honour.

"On a personal note, let me say that the Education Expo Committee has made it a priority to deliver and, despite the challenges, they have been superb and I thank them all for their sterling efforts.

"Also, the private sector has all been actively involved and helped to support, endorse and market this Ministry-led initiative."