4. Education as a Tool for the Maintenance of Inequality. The massification of higher education in the 1960's in the developed world (and many regions of the emerging economies) and the expansion of compulsory education world-wide was seen as enabling the "rise of the meritocracy" - increased social and economic mobility based on education and merit. In some parts of the world, education has made a difference to some aspects of equity, but in others it has not. For example, girls and women have challenges in moving beyond primary education in many parts of the world and in others, First Nations and aboriginal persons rarely succeed at the same level as other citizens in their own countries. Globally, the expansion of higher education has secured access to higher education for those already positioned to benefit - the middle and upper class. The basic structure of education systems affects equity. Traditionally, education systems have sorted students according to attainment. Evidence from studies of secondary and primary schools suggests that such sorting can increase inequalities and inequities, particularly if it takes place early in the education process. Early sorting can also weaken results overall.