learning without schools

as a believer in life-long continuous learning, was recently wondering IF i should go back to school (college) - perhaps even for visa-reasons 

((and as a frequent traveller and cosmo-citizen, i can't express how much i hate the fact that political national borders are so arbitrarily closed and opened over time, to suit political purposes))

but do i need a school for guidance, knowledge, and technique - NOW?

how do we learn most effectively and how can we use this learning in our own lives? can we apply the learning with satisfaction in our daily activities and eventually use for a livelihood?

when i say now. i have done all types of schools, up to masters level at university
and now and here in japan am wondering if i should choose the old practice of studying with one teacher by direct experience (and ultimately learning ... to learn ... from your own inner voice that also yoga tries to kindle), a life-long relationship with a sensei, as a learning alternative -

- versus the learning 'qualifications' 'earned' from a 'prestigious' university or other (l)earning institution. you may be thinking that a degree has effectively earned you decent livelihood from better pay in the corporate world or given you 'tools' and 'know-how' to start your own enterprises ... or  (_please fill in_)???

society at large surely benefits from having an educational system. my question here is if it's appropriate learning at all times in one's life. the questions on an alternative direct-teacher method are if it is available to you at all - have you met the ideal-teacher person in your life so far, and more importantly, does this person also accept you as their student. and next, can you bend yourself around your teacher's life  to follow her/him.