In modern information and knowledge societies, which are organized on the basis of effectively exploiting information and knowledge, education plays an important role. Education contributes to the wellbeing of individuals, national prosperity and economic growth. Nevertheless, research has persuasively shown that social inequalities persist in modern information and knowledge societies, as new forms of inequalities emerge. These inequalities revolve around the so called “digital divide” among people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and class differentials in access and success within higher education. In this paper we undertake a review of the literature, pointing out implications for policy makers and suggesting directions for future research.

information and knowledge societies, digital divide, social class inequalities