You go to college to get an education, not learn a job skill. These are two different things.
Who said anything about job skills? Not I. Paying for an education is a waste of time, now more than ever.
That is not necessarily true any more. Many colleges have certificate programs that are designed to prepare students for specific jobs.
This article is not clear as to what type of programs the students mentioned are enrolling in. If they wish to enroll in a program that is job specific education for up to two years I have no problem with the idea at all. I do have an issue if students failed at high school now want taxpayer money in order to enroll in degree programs that are over their head and they are likely to fail.