Nowadays about a third of children begin kindergarten being “vulnerable”, a fast growing proportion since the percentage was only one tenth of at-risk children a generation ago. Kids considered as “vulnerable” are the ones struggling with numbers and letters, unable to tell a simple story, to get along with their peers and to show respect to their teacher.
Until recently, it was highlighted that vulnerable children came from poor backgrounds. But it is not the case anymore: most of them come from middle-and upper income neighborhoods. The principal cause for this aggravation it that, in many families, parents have to devote more and more time to work, and consequently less time to their children.
Dr. Paul Kershaw says that what he calls a “brain drain” may cost the province of British Columbia a loss of 20% potential GDP growth ($400 billion) over the next 60 years. A lot of money, but certainly the price to pay for having so many children not “school ready”, which results in less chances to graduate and lower earnings in adulthood.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
