What does Universal Education mean?
Access to education for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, is commonly referred to as Universal Education. It emphasizes the importance of providing equal opportunities for everyone to acquire knowledge and skills.
Equality and Equity are fundamental concepts in social development, applicable to any society and the global community as a whole. Education equality ensures that every individual, irrespective of their gender, nationality, race, religion, social or economic background, has equal access to education. On the other hand, education equity strives for fair treatment, ensuring that everyone is provided with the necessary resources and support to thrive in their educational journey. This pursuit is particularly challenging due to the widening gap between the privileged and the underprivileged.
The usage of the term “universal education” appears peculiar and excessively ambitious, as we lack knowledge of the entire universe to categorize education as universal. Instead, it would be more appropriate to reframe this goal as “global education.” Our focus should be on establishing accessible and free education for all individuals worldwide, which can be termed as World Education. It is evident that we still have a significant journey ahead before we can truly embrace the concept of universal education.