According to a survey, only 2% of the children admitted to the Kindergarten get the opportunity to enter university. The other 98% will be disappointed. Less than 18,000 students are admitted to universities annually. Only those who complete their degrees in Medicine, Engineering, Science, Law and Management get priority in obtaining suitable jobs. The rest of the graduates who have gained their degree in other subjects along with the 98% who failed to enter universities become helpless in the highly competitive job market. The reason for this situation is that mainly degrees don't comply with the requirements of local and foreign job market and unawareness of the opportunities in higher education fields and vocational training opened for these students.

The main purpose of the 'Future Minds' Educational Exhibition organized for the first time by the Junior Old Boys' Association of Nalanda College in 2006 was to bridge the above information gap. 'Future Minds' will be the ideal forum to provide information regarding educational and career opportunities and this will enable them to interact with Institutions and discuss the various options. 'Future Minds' Educational Exhibition which has been held yearly, adding new features will again be held for the fifth time on July 2, 3 and 4 at the BMICH , Colombo on a grand scale. "Future Minds 2010" is named as "Educational & Career Gateway" with the idea of making every student aware of opportunities opened for them and how they could contribute to the national economy at this crucial juncture.

Another two programmes namely "Future Minds Genius" and 'Innovator' will be launched coinciding with 'Future Minds.' "Future Minds Genius' is a Quiz programme for the students of Government, Private and International Schools. 'Innovator' programme is a competition to encourage inventions among students as well as citizens. A panel of judges comprising university lecturers will judge all the entries and select the best Invention.

'Future Minds 2010' will include several new additions. 'Future Minds Awards' will be organized to recognize the best private educational institutes taking part in the exhibition. The performance of these institutions, resources, importance and validity of the courses offered will be taken as the criteria to select the best. Ravi Ahangama, the president of Nalanda Junior Old Boys' Association said that enhancing the quality of education delivered to local students is the main objective of "Future Minds Awards". Sanjaya Fernando, Project Chairman of "Future Minds - 2010" confirmed that the number of stalls have been increased and will exceed 150. He stated that this exhibition will be divided into two categories as Local & Foreign Educational Institutions. It will cover different subject streams such an Information Technology, Engineering, Medicine, Media, Finance, etc. Another specialty of this year will be the Uthurata Nena Kirana' education exhibition at Wembedi Girls' School, Jaffna.

The vision of the Nalanda Junior old Boys' Association is that organizing such an exhibition in Jaffna will be helpful to update students in the North and East on educational opportunities available to them.
Further details about 'Future Minds 2010' can be obtained from the Future Minds Secretariat at Nalanda College, Colombo by contacting them on 0112665111. e-mail address: info@futureminds.lk. Website: www.futureminds.lk