Universal education costs a lot, but the lack of universal education exacts an even higher price.
Beyond the price tag, truly universal education faces numerous barriers, including cultural and familial attitudes towards women and discrimination against political and cultural minorities
And then, there is the range of resources a society can or will direct toward providing and promoting an effective education system for its entire population.
And the problem with providing effective and meaningful education is not limited to countries we consider to be the “third world.”