Children need to leave school with a skill set that will lead to employment. No one is going to get a free ride. Those who are not prepared to work are free loaders and if their parents are willing to finance laziness and spending time in the basement playing video games then fine but don't expect the rest of us to support that.
Literacy and numeracy are essential for success in any field of employment. Not all children should or will opt for university and if not that then they need to learn a trade. None of us should look down on plumbers or electricians, they keep our world running smoothly.