I agree, but its happening.
Its the same in the UK. The government (specifically Tony Blair) decided a long time ago to greatly increase the number of school leavers going to tertiary education. Parents and teachers push university as they only way to get a good job - this is not even true given a trade will give you a better income than many degrees.
Funding this massive expansion has also spread government funds thin so it has made university more expensive, which pushes people to make a financial decision. At my daughters' sixth form college far fewer people are doing music or drama and far more doing maths at A level, as they want to do "useful" subjects at university.
The impact is even worse if you are male. The number of men doing subjects like archaeology (which my younger daughter is currently doing) has fallen sharply, and its becoming a "rich girl" subject. Its actually a secure career (there is a shortage!) if not well paid, but people do not know that. When people think about jobs they think STEM or business.
We even have a system here whereby you can do both for vocational subjects. My older daughter did a degree apprenticeship (in engineering in her case, but also available in law, accountancy, etc.) which means you work while doing a degree. Fees paid and you get a salary. People are waking up to this but it needs to expand.
Its the same in the UK. The government (specifically Tony Blair) decided a long time ago to greatly increase the number of school leavers going to tertiary education. Parents and teachers push university as they only way to get a good job - this is not even true given a trade will give you a better income than many degrees.
Funding this massive expansion has also spread government funds thin so it has made university more expensive, which pushes people to make a financial decision. At my daughters' sixth form college far fewer people are doing music or drama and far more doing maths at A level, as they want to do "useful" subjects at university.
The impact is even worse if you are male. The number of men doing subjects like archaeology (which my younger daughter is currently doing) has fallen sharply, and its becoming a "rich girl" subject. Its actually a secure career (there is a shortage!) if not well paid, but people do not know that. When people think about jobs they think STEM or business.
We even have a system here whereby you can do both for vocational subjects. My older daughter did a degree apprenticeship (in engineering in her case, but also available in law, accountancy, etc.) which means you work while doing a degree. Fees paid and you get a salary. People are waking up to this but it needs to expand.