The promotion of equal learning opportunities is crucially important for the improvement of the quality of life of millions of people. The virtues of education in preparing learners for life, for meaningful interaction with other human beings, for constructive civic and political involvement, and for successful economic participation stand beyond reason. As stated in "Brown v Board of Education," education "is the very foundation of good citizenship". This contribution focuses on the constitutional framework within which equal educational opportunities are pursued in South Africa. Section 29 of the Constitution, which provides for the education rights, and section 9, the equality principle, as well as the interaction between them, are discussed in some depth. It is concluded that, despite the constitutional framework being in place, there is still a long way to go before education opportunities will have been created that enable learners with different backgrounds, needs, abilities and preferences to achieve their potential within the complexities of modern society. A superhuman effort is required to make meaningful progress towards adequate access to educational opportunities for millions of people still hamstrung by the vicious cycle of poverty, disease and hopelessness. A balance must also be struck between the constitutional values of dignity, equality and freedom. Aspects of current education policies fail to appreciate this, especially when it comes to reflecting language and religious diversity in education. Policies that deny this diversity, and impose uniformity in the name of equality, will fail in the long run, because a unified nation cannot be built by rejecting the bricks one has to use. As such policies marginalise people, and deny their self-respect and self-worth; they affect their human dignity. A clearer understanding is needed of what nation-building is about, and in pursuing everyone's equal worth, it must be appreciated that equality will remain an elusive dream if people's uniqueness is ignored, and if we fail to pursue equality within the context of their diversity. In the final analysis it is a quest for human dignity rather than equality. That is what "Brown v Board of Education" is about. And that is what democracy in South Africa should be about.