Analyses the social stratification process from a theoretical viewpoint, attempts to provide an historical and conceptual background for a "meta-analysis" of scholarly studies on equity in the field of education, observes that social stratification, viewed across the artificial dividing-line drawn between developing and industrialized countries, holds very significant and sometimes negative consequences for the educational and occupational careers of educated youth, concludes that although education instills skills, as regards social stratification, it tends to play the part of "Great Divider" rather than that of "Great Equaliser".