Germany has good academic (selective) schools and good technical schools. We used to have something similar in the UK. I have a PhD and was good academically. I recently bumped into an old school friend, who was not academic in the slightest and is now a tradesman earning great money. If I had kids, I wouldn't mind one bit if they decided to pass on higher education and learn a trade instead. I call it, "Revenge on the snobs."