We can value education without commodifying it the way we've done. In my opinion, the current system rewards diploma mills and devalues education anyways.

I think education should be both inexpensive and completely voluntary, so that the only 'reward' for going to school is the knowledge you leave with.

in germany the apprenticeship system is very advanced and you can apprentice your way to a bachelor's equivalent with further study to a master's equivalent. that's how most trades work here. apprentices do part time studying at a trade school and part time working the trade over multiple years simultaneously, with exams issued by the school and for example a chamber of industry. it's very effective at turning students into effective workers, and if you find the right job you've got good prospects for a lifelong career, but obviously it does not teach you to doubt the system. of course there are also usually no "unnecessary" courses that would take away from an apprentice's focus. i think it's a decent balance, and you can always educate yourself on the state of the world in your free time.

As make educated people, because they can't judge their education, neither before choosing nor after being formed.

bro, even with education they are easy prey. There simply is no getting around the bell curve of humanity here.