Next month my daughter will start university. Because we homeschooled she didn't have a SACE (South Australian Certificate of Education), so she had to wait until she turned 18 and take the STAT test for adult entry. In other some states she would have had to wait until she was 21 or go back into school as an older student to get her certificate, so I guess we are lucky that she didn't have to do that here. She got in the top 15% of STAT scores and was accepted in the first round, so it wasn't as if she wasn't ready for this level of education. I have to acknowledge here that the costs of university exclude many from that education, even if they are capable.
It's not going to be easy for us financially these next few years, but I'm still grateful (and hopeful) that we can get her through it, yet sad for many who won't have the chance to even choose this path, even if they wanted to. It frustrates me that even countries which can provide free education have their limits on the level to which they'll provide it and often restrictions on what type of education is provided for free.
Much of our education focuses on academics and while a basic level of academic learning is important to everyone, not everyone's strengths lie there and many children struggle at school because of this. I like the idea of apprenticeships for those who are more hands on learners and it's been good to see this having a resurgence, in Australia and the UK. However, it's now only accessible to those over 16 years of age, yet sometimes 14 and 15 year olds, who might benefit from this way of learning, end up on a downward spiral as they lose hope in their ability to learn in a system which isn't catering for them.
While an education is the most important way to go for all children, they shouldn't have to experience close to slave labour, we should also not forget a balance between education and hands on work, which is also a part of education. Some people really learn better in a physical situation and struggle when cooped up in a classroom situation. I'm sure teachers have experienced children who cannot sit still, yet still manage to absorb what is being taught. An active mind often needs an active body to go with it.
I love education and believe everyone should have access to it at whatever level and in whatever area they have interest in. However, I also believe that education spans across all things in life and all ways of learning. Everyone should have freedom of education to learn how they learn best and my hope is that, slowly, this will come to pass. Sal Khan, the creator of Khan Academy, is trying to bring free education to everyone everywhere and at all levels. Practically he has achieved this. It is accessible online for anyone who can access it. However, he cannot, yet, award certificates which would be accepted as proof of that education. It's a goal the academy is working on and I hope that they will achieve it.
In other countries individuals are working hard to provide education for children locally, who may not normally be able to afford it. @Azizbd is working hard to keep 
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