I'm not defending any school system that sends student out without a knowledge of reading, writing and speaking. I do know that in college, most schools have remedial programs for those that don't have basic reading and writing skills.
I was talking to a friend today. He both teaches and does student advising at the college level. We were talking about student loans and I mentioned how often students end up taking big loans to major in subject where the job prospects are very limited or low paying. He said that as a student advisor, there is a "no go" zone when talking to students about majors. That they are being told to "follow their passion", even when that "passion" may not net a job or a job with no prospects to earning enough to pay off student loans.