No one forbids, no regulation forces us to choose one or the other and we all realize that if someone can possess both degree and skills. We will have more opportunities and be easier to succeed in work and life, why don't we try to achieve both instead of having to choose one or the other?
Or we are forced to choose, it will depend and each person will have different choices. If we live in a well-off family and our parents are able to provide for us to go to school and have the opportunity to achieve higher degrees. There is no reason to turn down that opportunity and choose skill. On the contrary, if we are unlucky and do not have the conditions to go to school, learning skills is a more suitable choice.
Well, you're right. We aren't forced to choose one of them. If it is possible to get both of them, why not to go to school and learn skills together? I'm also a person who have done it together. I was a student of a university and I went to some courses when I have free time. I didn't learn full day at university, I have the time to learn skills in some courses at that time.
We are only expected to choose one of them if we have no ability to have both of them. Yep, at least we can have skills if it is impossible to go to school. Skills is likely more effective for the people who want to get jobs immediately.