You're stuck in old ways of thinking. If the purpose is education, people shouldn't go straight from high school to academia. Higher education is more suitable for adults with a little more experience from life. I did an intensive higher education course specifically for adults later in my life, most of us with a blue collar background. We could do the equivalent of 3-4 years studies in one year, because we were all more mature and motivated. And also because most university education is in a very slow tempo, to drag out the years as much as possible.

High school graduates won't be structured, because they're not supposed to sit in a school bench at that stage of life. They've been there for ten years already. Continuing studies without even tasting real life stunts your development.

Here are some purposes of academia, besides education:

– Research

– Privilege laundering for the rich

– Hiding youth unemployment

– Brain washing youths (Not in your country or university, where it's merely influencing them in the right direction)

– Continue to instill a leader-follower mindset into the population

– A nice and leisurely lifestyle without having to work

– Getting connections with rich and influential families

– Finding young people for romantic adventures

– Impressing older generations, who value degrees religiously