In an increasingly commodified world, where nearly every basic human need has been turned into a business opportunity, one fundamental right continues to face relentless commercialisation: education.

Despite being enshrined as a human right under Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goal 4 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, quality education remains an elusive dream for millions, especially in the Global South. The once-noble deed of sharing knowledge has increasingly become a profit-making venture, veiled in the glossy façade of online certifications, inaccessible institutions, and disengaged educators.

The Commercialisation of Learning: A Global Concern
In 2023, the global private education market was valued at over $1.8 trillion, and it’s projected to reach nearly $3 trillion by 2030 [Source: HolonIQ]. While this growth is often celebrated as innovation, it also reflects a dangerous trend: access to education is increasingly based on the ability to pay, not the will to learn.

Educational institutions in many parts of the world are prioritising brand over pedagogy, enrollment numbers over student growth, and profit over impact. In some cases, degrees have become more about prestige than actual skill-building, and knowledge, a universal right is being gatekept behind paywalls, overpriced curriculums, and strategic marketing agendas.

Global Education Metrics: The Divide Between North and South

According to UNESCO’s 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report:

• 244 million children and youth worldwide are out of school.
• Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly 60% of these out-of-school children.
• In low-income countries, only 1 in 5 young people complete secondary school, compared to 4 in 5 in high-income countries.

This stark divide between the Global North and South paints a troubling picture. While children in countries like Finland, Canada, and Germany benefit from free, state-sponsored education systems with high standards and student-centric approaches, children in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America often lack access to qualified teachers, functional infrastructure, and even basic learning materials.

The average pupil-teacher ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa is 37:1, while in Europe it is 13:1 [World Bank, 2022]. Such disparities create an uneven playing field for children around the globe, further entrenching cycles of poverty and inequality.

Education Is Survival Not a Luxury.
Critics often argue that education is not as “urgent” as food, water, or shelter. But as the old saying goes, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.” Education is empowerment. It is what turns a resource into a sustainable livelihood and an individual into a changemaker.

When we fail to invest in equitable education, we’re not just limiting individual potential, we’re curbing global progress. How can we expect to solve the climate crisis, eradicate poverty, or achieve gender equality without a generation that is informed, skilled, and capable?

Toward a Locally Global Future: Decentralising Knowledge
The future of education must be inclusive, decolonised, and democratised. We must ensure that future climate activists, sustainability experts, scientists, and social leaders are not disproportionately coming from a handful of elite institutions in the West.

Instead, we need to support localised education systems with global relevance, systems that are resilient, context-sensitive, and inclusive of diverse histories, cultures, and languages.

This involves:

• Public investment in free and quality education in low-income countries.
• Technology transfers and open educational resources (OER) that allow global collaboration.
• Capacity building for teachers and school leaders in under-resourced regions.
• Reforms in international aid and development models to support education ecosystems, not just one-off interventions.

Knowledge Should Build Bridges, Not Barriers

If we are truly committed to a better world, one that upholds dignity, equality, and sustainability, we must first correct the imbalance in education access. A just, peaceful, and climate-resilient world cannot be built on an educational foundation that favours the wealthy and marginalises the rest.

Quality education must no longer be a privilege of geography or wealth, it must be a universal passport to possibility. It’s time to dismantle the profit-first mindset around learning and rebuild a system where knowledge is a right, not a revenue stream.

Let’s not gatekeep the tools of transformation. Let’s teach, not sell the future.