I think islam and christianity both came close to reaching the answer to the modern day question even before we reached the point it had to be asked.
Back in the old days the only people who adquired access to higher education were nuns, priests, nurses and such. People who were saints and guided in the paths of faith and virtue.

And in mooslim countries it was students of islam and shit.
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Wouldnt you agree that limiting the knowledge(power) to people of high virtue be a overall net positive to society?