With the tumult of the first years of the twenty-first century, from prosperity to banking crisis, it is easy to lose sight of the institutions, besides the economy, which form our society. Further, the focus on money shifts the construction of values from society and citizenship to consumption, growth and expenditure. This book re-directs the focus to the pivotal social institution that shapes the lives of every member of society, namely, education, without which the social good could not be achieved. Maria Slowey and Hans Schuetze revisit their earlier publication of 2000, to explore the changes if any, to the social contract towards equality through education. This publication provides an invaluable resource that enables us to contextualise the issues with the comparative global perspectives. In particular, it integrates lifelong learning with higher education, an undertaking crucial for adult educators with our interest in post-compulsory education along the lifespan, access and equality.