Bandar Seri Begawan - The "Back to School 2010 Exhibition and Saks Promotion Fair" might be made an annual event to be held in all four districts in the Sultanate, a senior government official disclosed yesterday.

Director of the Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education, Abdullah Pg Hj Tengah said that based on the response to this year's fair, the department and the Economic Planning and Development Board (JPKE) will be looking to expand the fair to all districts of Brunei next year.

The fair attracts book stores and outlets for the purpose of exhibiting and promoting their text books, reference and exercise books as well as stationery equipment and school preparation materials. A member of the public who was present during the launch said that he was, however, quite disappointed at the number of booths and the limited selection of books on sale.

Declining to be named, he told The Brunei Times that he saw the fair banner near the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium while driving.

"I thought it was going to be a big event because it is held here at the ICC but it is a lot smaller than what I had expected," he said.

Secretary of the fair Hj Khalid Hj Damit, however, said that the small number of exhibits and stall operators could be attributed to the short notice of the fair, held for the first time in Brunei.

"Unfortunately we only have 18 participants this year," he said.

Although he had not visited the fair yet, Mohd Hadi, lauded the ministry's initiative in setting up such an event.

"I think it is a good start, I have not gone there yet but it looks promising (based on information provided)," he said.

The father of a 10-year-old girl, attending a private school in the Bandar Seri Begawan area, said that he usually purchases his daughter's education needs at Yayasan shopping complex's Paul & Elizabeth Bookstore.

"But if we can buy the same books at a cheaper price here then why not," he said, adding that he would visit the fair on January 1 with his family.

The fair, opens from 9am until 9pm, also features activities such as drawing and colouring contests as well as quizzes.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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