Unprepared school kids cost B.C. $400 billion; Invest in children to build workforce
The Province
September 18 2009 
By: Kimberly Shearon

B.C. loses $400 billion in lost potential because it sends one in three children to kindergarten unprepared, a new study says.

The study, commissioned by the B.C. Business Council, concludes that only 71 per cent of children enter kindergarten with the basic developmental tools to succeed.

The other 29 per cent are "developmentally vulnerable," meaning they aren't ready for school because they can't do basic activities, such as being able to tell a story or follow instructions.

The study, conducted by the University of B.C., suggests that provincial and federal governments invest $3 billion annually to ensure families get the support they need to prepare their children for kindergarten and beyond.

"If we invest that $3 billion a year, over time, we are going to reap benefits that outweigh the costs by a ratio of six-to-one," said Dr. Paul Kershaw, one of the study's lead researchers and an associate professor at UBC….

In a traditional approach to workplace preparation, resources focus on post-secondary education.

But funneling time, money and resources into strong family policy is crucial, he said….

He said he wants to see B.C.'s business community lead the call on government to improve parental leave, child care and income support policies.

It's a worthwhile cause, he said, especially since businesses will benefit from family policies that raise a strong workforce.

The study also points out that while some might assume children from low-income homes are the most vulnerable, middle-class children also struggle to keep up.

"The 29-per-cent vulnerability rate is a bit of a crystal ball for us. It's warning us that we are raising a generation of economic underperformers," Kershaw said. "By leaving them vulnerable, it's like we're throwing away $400 billion."

The $400 billion quantifies the lost opportunities and forgone potential that result, over time, from inadequate preparation among kindergarten-age children….