PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Ruel Reid will officially launch the second staging of Concept Promotion’s back-to-school Trade Fair at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday.

The fair is scheduled to be held from August 12 to 13 at the Chinese Benevolent Association Centre on Hope Road in Kingston, under the theme “Youth & Education – Jamaica’s Best Combination”. Its title sponsor is Grace Vienna Sausages.

The second staging of the event follows its overwhelming inaugural success in 2005. And the organisers say parents and students will benefit from a one-stop shopping experience as they prepare for the hectic back-to-school period.

Exhibitors and sponsors have committed to make available, at special discount prices, a wide range of school-based services and supplies under one roof.

The event will take place two weeks before the start of the new school year, which is the peak activity time for preparations to begin the new term.

The trade fair is the brainchild of Concept Promotions whose director, Adriel McKay, noted that the event would be “bigger and better” in 2006.

McKay noted that September had become an increasingly difficult and traumatic time for the majority of parents as they go through the annual ritual of preparing children of all ages for the beginning of the academic school year.

“These preparations encompass the purchasing of books, uniforms and other materials required by all educational institutions as mandatory items for students. We just want to make the experience easier and less traumatic for everyone”, McKay said in a news release.

“We have several exciting activities and features planned for this year including the on-the-spot payment of school fees, special seminars to help parents and children better prepare for all aspects of the education process including budgeting, saving, and investment, immunisation of children by the Ministry of Health and special prices for a wide range of school supplies and services,” he added.

The Registrar General’s Department (RGD), will also be on hand to provide much-needed information on registration of children and applications for birth certificates.

GraceKennedy’s title sponsorship is through its Vienna sausage brand, and other sponsors include the RJR Communications Group, The Jamaica Observer, Sangsters Book Stores, Scotiabank, KLAS Sports Radio and FLOW.

The show manager is Horace Abrahams.