Social Inequality in Modern Higher Education

One of the urgent problems of modern society is the accessibility and quality of higher education for various population groups. The importance of the knowledge and skills acquired in the process of education to achieve social success is proved by a large number of studies. However, the value of higher education for the representatives of different social groups is an open to debate issue. Many researchers point out that the function of education as a channel of the social mobility is gradually neutralized. On the contrary, education becomes an institute of strengthening and reproduction of the inequality. This process contributes to another socio-cultural effect – dislocation of the value scale for those who are deprived of access to quality higher education. As a result we can observe the erosion of basic mental values in the society, the growth of resentment sentiment and social tension. The given article discusses some aspects of the above mentioned problems.