Getting a a certificate is necessary but adding a skill to that certificate can make the whole difference, especially in this 21st century were we keep hearing people talk about skills and the importance of learning different skills and that will help us in life. Truly skill acquisition is very essential especially in this economic dwindling society. Get the academic knowledge which is very important but top it up with a practical skill. Because even after graduation , you might not be lucky enough to get a job easily, but with your skill you can still hustle to put food on your table. So I am of the opinion that the two should go side by side.
When I was much younger , we were always told to go to school get good grades and graduate with flying colours that opportunities are waiting for us, but now the world has totally changed, maybe it use to happen in those days, but now a days it has totally changed. I was a bit lucky to learn a musical instrument before starting my higher institution and when I get to school , that was the skill that helped me as a side hustle. But yet it was so demanding and I had to reduce the level I attended events so that it doesn't affect my academic.
My candid advice to parents now is, in as much as you are paying a huge amount of tuition fees for your child, also ensure that you help him or her get a practical skill , because it will always help him especially in today's world.
So a child should not be allowed to focus totally on academics, learning a skill is very necessary, even schools should ensure that they include a particular trade / skills in their curriculum. So beyond classroom, skills should be acquired so that a student can always fall back to it as a second means of income in school even after graduation.
