Nothing is free, even a packet of rice which used to be!!!
In a developing country like Sri Lanka, certain people have a mindset that everything and anything could be obtained and achieved free-of-charge. There were days where an afternoon meal was given free though someone else had to pay for it. Those thoughts and wishes have not changed among some individuals who still believe that there are freebies!
Education is one such aspect which used to be free, but it was 10 to 15 years ago when the number of individuals educated was less compared to the uneducated. Today education cannot be obtained if you do not pay for it, said Kamal Abeysinghe, EDEX Expo Exhibition Chairman, during a media briefing held at the Royal College in Colombo last Tuesday.
The EDEX Mid Year Expo will be held on the 30th and 31st of August 2014 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre in Colombo. The 2- day exhibition mainly targets the post Advanced Level students who are currently sitting for the exams.
Speaking to the Business Times on the sidelines of the event, Mr. Abeysinghe said, “During the past 12 years of the exhibition we found both O/L and A/L students considering the next step of their career. Students do not wait until the results are released because time has a cost for them, their families and as a whole to the nation and to the economy.” Adding to that he mentioned that the EDEX Mid Year Expo which is happening for the second consecutive year also offers another opportunity for the Job Fair which took place for first time in January this year. “This year we had the highest number of visitors around 50,000 at the exhibition held in January at the BMICH in Colombo out of which 20,000 made it to the job fair,” noted Mr. Abeysinghe.
Many recognised tertiary educational institutes, vocational and skills development institutes and corporate entities will be participating in the exhibition. The exhibition will also facilitate spot admissions to selected academic, vocational, technical and professional courses and post graduate programmes offered by both local and foreign institutions. Discounted course fees, full or partial scholarships and other offers with financial support options will enable students to fast track their career paths in an affordable manner. There will be over 145 stalls represented by 85 exhibitors including representatives from universities in 11 countries at the exhibition.