It is a different world in which we live in these days, and those with kids will have to do what they feel is right for themselves, and their kids. When I was trying to figure out what I was going to do once out of high school, I knew upfront that whatever I did, would be on my own for the most part, we had no money or means to do much, and any kind of grant etc, wasn't available to me.
I picked a trade school for electronics, paid my way, paid for my own apartment and food etc. It was the best thing ever for me, and to this day, I feel I got a lot of bang for the buck. I have been very fortunate to have never been in a layoff situation, or made redundant, and have made decent money. I have always been thankful for being able to manage it on my own, and I do not mean any of this in a boastful type of way.
These days are tough, I think a lot of parents want to give their kids everything(maybe because of what they didn't get?) and yet the kids have little to no skin in the game. Parents become a bank, and some become bankrupt over providing for, or being enablers. What is wrong with kids taking it on, seems most think it is the most horrendous thing, like they have given them the boot out the door. Like many of my colleagues here at work, I think they get boastful about what they are doing, yet for many, their kids learn nothing about the real world and what real money is. Kids want it all and right now for the most part, and things are so ridiculously expensive, how do they expect to ever pay for it all? Ugh...Sorry for that bit of a rant. I will go and hide now.....