I am with you on the importance of education., but
after a few years in the field I find my experience at odds with your general assessment. The schools I've seen, public and private, generally all have collaborative projects in their classes, and cooperation is always a key goal integrated into the pedagogy itself.
I would suggest some folk don't like to ask for help, maybe that's why they gravitated to becoming the engineers (they like to make their own kit)?
RickiTarr