IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS …

At the exhibition opening ceremony Targi Kielce President of Board Andrzej Mochoń
expressed his gratitude to Roman Ostrowski for the long-term cooperation

20th anniversary Education Fair edition - an inspiration to consider the expo's two decades' changes and advancement to become mature. One of the initiators of Targi Kielce exhibition was Roman Ostrowski; the first and many-year Programme Board chairman who had then become the observer. Ostrowski was also present at the opening ceremony of the expo jubilee edition.

- How do you remember the beginning of the Education Expo?

- 20 years ago when we were organising the first expo edition we already had computers, however the expo was staged in just one, time-worn hall. We also asked ourselves whether that was a good idea. I remember that the-then superintendent Andrzej Sygut trusted group of loose-cannons who had knocked on his door to inform that there must be a humanistic exhibition in Targi Kielce. The idea was to hold an exhibition which would keep up and boost the spirits on a regional and national scale.  The then Minister of Education Ryszard Czarny and Romuald Pieczonka - one of the Polish book wholesalers, with a strong support of colleagues had strongly supported this initiative. Together we had resolved to hold the educational expo in Kielce.

- Did the idea took on instantly?

- It did, as a matter of fact! Both publishers and booksellers were favourably disposed to the expo. That used to be the only Targi Kielce's humanistic expo, among many other technically-minded events. Year after year the fair has been growing and advancing. Teachers-enthusiasts, methodology consultants and education superintendents would start visiting the expo. Not before long had the expo format attracted many publishers; not only form education-focussed publishing houses.

Now, 20 years later, the Kielce's Education Fair is probably the only Poland's expo of this kind in addition to the fact that this is the biggest event.  This is a really important expo; not only does it earn fame and glory for the city but also for the entire region. Yet today it has reached a tipping point as there are not many educational publishers. We need a round table to bring together all educational process' parties as well as the ministry, which comes as an obvious thing. This is most-desired initiative designed to solve the broadly-defined education's, text-book publishers' and distributors' problems.

- Ever since its beginnings Education expo has been enhanced with a whole array of fringe events, conferences ...

The expo has always been an integrator for all stakeholders of education process, i.e. parents, children, teachers, booksellers and publishers, the ministry.  Meetings with authors and similar initiatives have made it a place where you can consort and live on broadly-defined culture. The School Masters Convention  has also gained recognition and won favour from its participants - this has been regarded a highly useful discussion forum. I remember that the first junior-high school buses were showcased in Kielce, then the buses were regarded a great sensation.

- How about modern technologies which enhance learning process at every level?

-  Of course the world is advancing, young people reach for modern devices of different kinds and turn them into learning aids. The language of education changes. This is a challenge for all eduction process stakeholders. Teachers cannot lag behind. Educational technologies make up an important part of the event; they have become a permanent programme fixture. For the expo format this is a very interesting development direction.

- A few days ago you resolved to vacate the position of the Programme Board Vice Chairman ...

- Because of other professional and social obligations. One cannot have a finger in every pie.  I just want to say that I am not leaving the EDUKACJA Programme Board for keeps I will always provide my advice to President Mochon and the Programme Board Chairman  Piotr Dobrołęcki if they only want to. I will keep on supporting the expo. I believe that as the expo develops, it stands the chance to go international. I wish to express my gratitude to all those I had the honour to co-create the expo and work for all these years.

- Thank you.