Education is the starting point for any comprehensive assault on

Suella Braverman, with the clarity of one who has wrestled with the realities of power and justice, declared: “Education is the starting point for any comprehensive assault on entrenched social inequality and the midwife of a truly effective meritocracy.” In this bold statement, she elevates learning to its rightful place—not as a luxury, nor even as a mere tool, but as the very weapon and healer by which societies may free themselves from the chains of injustice. She speaks of education not simply as the acquisition of knowledge, but as the birth-giver of equality, the force that brings forth a world where each person rises by their merit rather than by the accident of their birth.

The origin of this truth lies in centuries of human struggle. Whenever societies have sought to climb from darkness into light, it has been through the widening of education. From the monastic schools of medieval Europe to the spread of literacy in the age of revolutions, it was always the classroom that shook the throne of privilege. Braverman sees clearly that the first strike against social inequality must be made not with swords, nor with angry rhetoric, but with books, teachers, and the awakening of the human mind.

History bears this out with luminous examples. Consider the Tuskegee Institute founded by Booker T. Washington. Born into slavery, he knew from bitter experience that without education, the newly freed would remain bound in invisible chains of ignorance. His school became a forge where men and women, once despised, rose into artisans, scholars, and leaders. In time, their skills and confidence defied the entrenched systems of inequality. Or recall the bold efforts of Malala Yousafzai, who risked her very life for the right of girls in Pakistan to learn. Her witness proves Braverman’s truth: education is the midwife of liberation, the power that brings forth a better world even in the face of entrenched oppression.

The deeper meaning of her words is that meritocracy—a society where people are judged by ability, effort, and virtue—cannot exist unless education is first made universal and fair. Without this, privilege will always tilt the scales, giving the wealthy a head start and leaving the poor bound to cycles of disadvantage. To speak of meritocracy without ensuring equal access to education is to build castles upon sand. But when education is given to all, the race of life begins with justice, and each soul is free to rise to the height of their potential.

And yet, let us not romanticize the task. Braverman speaks of a "comprehensive assault," for entrenched social inequality is not easily toppled. It resists, it defends itself with wealth, with custom, with inherited power. Only a determined, generational effort can break its hold. Schools must not merely exist—they must be strong, inspiring, and open to all. Teachers must not merely instruct—they must awaken the flame of dignity. Parents, leaders, and communities must treat education not as an expense, but as the very cornerstone of freedom.

The lesson for us is clear: if we desire justice, we must begin with education. Do not be deceived by promises of equality that bypass the schools, nor by voices that claim wealth or charity alone can heal society’s wounds. Lasting change is born in classrooms, in libraries, in the humble act of a child learning to read. When we invest in education, we do not merely create workers for tomorrow’s jobs—we create citizens, thinkers, and leaders who will challenge injustice and build a fairer world.

Practical action lies before us. Support schools in your community, not only with taxes but with presence, encouragement, and advocacy. Mentor the young, especially those from backgrounds of struggle. Demand policies that expand access to quality education for all, not just for the privileged few. And in your own life, never cease learning, for every educated mind becomes a stone in the fortress against inequality.

Thus Suella Braverman’s words echo like a clarion call: education is both sword and midwife. It slays the giant of social inequality and gives birth to the fragile, beautiful child of meritocracy. Let us therefore honor it, defend it, and expand it, for in doing so we lay the foundation of a world where every person, regardless of birth, may rise to their rightful greatness.