I don't know what it like in other countries, but when you attend a freshman back-to-school night at your local high school with your incoming freshman student you will hear about the U.C. system first, state universities second and lastly the local junior college might get a mention or not. Trades--forget it, no mention at all. K-12 education in the U.S. seems hell-bent on sending every student to college. It's almost public shaming to suggest anything else. Additionally many high schools across the U.S. have dismantled their shop class. My youngest son took a wood shop class. The students were never allowed to so much as touch a power tool--fear of lawsuits and soaring insurance costs have made shop classes untenable in high school.