Constitutional Protection of the Right to Education: Challenges and Strategies for Ensuring Equal Educational Access

Abstract

The right to education is a fundamental constitutional and human right that plays a vital role in promoting social justice, democratic participation, and sustainable development. Despite widespread constitutional recognition, many countries continue to face significant challenges in ensuring equal educational access due to socioeconomic disparities, governance limitations, geographical inequalities, and unequal resource distribution. This study aims to examine the constitutional protection of the right to education, identify the major challenges affecting its implementation, and explore strategic approaches to strengthening educational equity. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework, relevant studies published between 2015 and 2025 were systematically identified, screened, and synthesized from major academic databases. The findings indicate that constitutional guarantees alone are insufficient to ensure educational equality unless supported by effective governance, institutional accountability, sustainable public financing, and inclusive educational policies. The review further demonstrates that constitutional protection should be understood as a dynamic governance process that integrates legal commitments with practical policy implementation. This study contributes to the literature by proposing an integrated conceptual perspective linking constitutional law, educational governance, human rights, and public policy as complementary elements in realizing equal educational access. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers seeking to strengthen constitutional implementation and promote equitable education systems