English: Official logo of the World Economic Forum. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Harvard Yard, Widener Library, preparations for inauguration of President Drew Faust (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a powerful article by Drew Gilpin Faust, President, Harvard University, published in the WEF. He argues that inequality will continue to cast a long shadow on humanity’s progress unless we choose to act.

Source: Can education beat inequality? | World Economic Forum

Personally, I have always been a passionate believer in education being a social leveler. However, there’s enormous inertia, with privilege and wealth ensuring that education is a two tier system. Often young people struggle to gain college degrees in less prestigious universities, only to find themselves at a disadvantage in the jobs market. The less privileged accumulate enormous debt to finance education whereas the wealthy can look to their families. In the job markets, work experience again follows those with elitist education and connections.

Despite all these reservations, education is critically important.

Thoughts?