In Vancouver, university degree holders are not making as much money as someone who had proper trade training (like auto mechanics apprenticeship) with certificate. In fact, the guy who is doing the dump trunk garbage making more $ than a University graduate, even the road construction flaggers making big bucks than anyone of us. In other words, university education here might not be 100% necessary (unless you want to become managerial level)
In Hong Kong the work environment is totally different than here, so a University degree might be far more important than here.
I agree, why compete with all other ethnic members of the same age group and be kept out of the workforce? For me I go to school currently to socialize and meet some liked-minded people, but I don't take mass education very seriously. I conduct in liberal education where I spend 100-200 a month on books of my liking. I certainly find this more valuable and engaging than learning within a curriculum imposed by the professors and individuals of authority.