Created: 2008-10-02 00:30:05

Nowadays education degree is like the age or gender - it is usually asked in any form or questionnaire you would have to, or be asked to, fill in. High school, college, professional or vocational education, bachelor's or master's degree - you are expected to have at least one of them. The less degrees you have, the less are your chances to get a good job with nice wage. That is simple and understandable, but aren't we overestimating the benefit and value of official education?

I am asking this, because we often hear from companies, that when they hire young professionals, all they get are good theoretics. These young employees do not have practice, and have to be taught to work, despite the years they spent studying and a diploma they obtained. So maybe we are unfair to those, who have less diplomas, but greater life experience? These people had to do something more that study, in order to survive and achieve their goals. They are practitioners, and their "life experience degree" might be worth many times more than, let's say, university diploma.

What do you think - are we overvaluing education, or is it crucial, and life experience is no way better than university diploma?