EDUCATION

 

BC business and industry can become and remain competitive only by the continued investment in and maintenance of the highest standards in the development of human capital.  These standards must effectively meet international levels of competitiveness reflecting the changing needs of the world economic activity to keep BC business and industry competitive for the future.

 

The Chamber believes that the provincial education system from kindergarten to elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels must provide equal opportunity for all students to develop to the maximum of their potential.  As the needs of society, and our economy, change so too must the educational system.

 

The Chamber believes that the elementary and secondary school system must continue to stress basic educational skills, at least equal to leading world standards in the prescribed criteria. The system must also include critical and creative thinking, the ability to analyse and the skill to communicate.  It must introduce students to the new educational technologies and provide means for students to become computer literate.

 

Students must have opportunities to explore the multitude of international and domestic opportunities that are available to today's secondary school graduates.  Secondary students must be encouraged to proceed to graduation at much higher levels.  Where students leave the school system before graduation, adequate facilities must be made available for them to attain graduation at a later date through continuing education and community college programs.  An alternative career pathway to the academic stream must be maintained similar to other world class programs, affording students the opportunity to receive alternative skill development (such as those programs and systems found in Germany, Australia and New Zealand).

 

Career, vocational and post-secondary programs should afford students the opportunity to become involved in and be acquainted with a variety of work and entrepreneurial environments.  This requires a closer liaison and open partnerships between business, industry and the school system.

 

In keeping with the ideal of an educational system which encourages and assists lifelong learning that keeps an individual up to date in their chosen field, educational programs should afford opportunities for those who are basically or functionally illiterate, including those who face the challenge of acquiring English as a second language, and those who seek a career in a non-academic field.

 

BC vocational programs must prepare students to meet the challenges of the local, national and international workplace with the new skills required to compete and make both the student and the BC economy strong and flexible now and in the future.

 

BC colleges and universities (both public and private), and our private and non-profit trainers, can ensure the quality of their graduates only by the maintenance of high levels of academic excellence.