In my opinion the Public Educational system that we have in BC at this time is a direct reflection of the condition of the Province as a whole. All of the factors being debated, demographic changes, lower birth rates etc are parts of the picture that has led to drastic drops in enrolment.
Underlying these shifts, and the real problem is that BC's economy is reactionary and not self determined. After 150 years our economy is still driven by exports of raw materials, our economy is tugged along or held back by market forces outside of our control. With the correct political and corporate will things could be different.
This province is blessed with deposits of Iron ore, coal, natural gas, and limestone; these are the basis of a steel industry. And what about a Plastics and chemical industrial base, we could have that as well! for those you need Natural gas or oil, limestone and salt water, and electricity. We could be exporting steel to Asia, and consumer goods to all of North America. We have the talent and business smarts her to have a World-Class vibrant economy and the stability that flows down to infrastructure like schools, hospitals and roads.
We're doing it to ourselves. When you promote Vancouver Island and the interior as retirement paradises what can we expect. Don't get me wrong, I love seniors but you cant build a robust economy on immigration. Apart from maybe a home and car purchase most retires don't buy the volume or variety of goods and services that a working family with children do, more importantly they don't have children to send to school.
As an insider I know there's a lot wrong at the school district level. Against good advice some districts built schools they didn't really need because the money was available.
Most Principals and VP's have a lucrative contract with their districts resulting in schools having a principal and a couple of VP's, as the numbers drop they spend part of their day teaching. Apart from displacing teachers it can short-change the kids if the admins have been away from the classroom for a while.

Stephen