For those of us who live in functional countries, college is usually a good idea. Worst case, you’re out a few hundred euros, which AFAIK isn’t an issue for the overwhelming majority of the population.

However, I do think there is a huge problem of undervaluing the trades, in close to every western country. Add to that the fact almost every new building nowadays is cheap trash that will fall apart in under a century, the building trades are especially affected.