It is generally argued that society always needs a skilled workforce to function. So instead of focusing on tertiary education, vocational courses should be emphasised. In my opinion, I disagree with the statement that this type of career path should be suggested to the upcoming generation.
The primary reason to hold this view that tertiary education is more important than a vocational training program is that it will result in a shortage of educated workforce. It is universally accepted that knowledge and qualifications gained from university can help one to have a head start over other candidates when it comes to job hunting. In India, for instance, a majority of high school graduates are content to spend three to five years more studying at a university with the hope for a bright career ahead.
Another point to consider is that if we encourage more people to become blue-collar workers, then there will be a shortage of white-collar workers who may otherwise create more wealth for society. For example, fewer engineers would mean lower productivity; a dearth of scientists may inhibit scientific discoveries which can provide us with a better life in the future. In contrast, those doing blue-collar jobs may face redundancy when too many applicants compete for the same position. An unbalanced workforce might, therefore, hold society back from development in the long term.
In conclusion, the workforce will adjust itself to cater to the need of the community, so there is no need to direct young people to follow a particular career path.