You've given a very accurate account and there is nothing in your opinion (or rather facts. It is a very factual opinion) that I disagree with here. But I think I did not make my point clear enough. My main contention was that governments never take it upon themselves to take the necessary measures and educate their ignorant masses. This is because governments work strictly on the principle of self-interest and I scratch your back, you scratch my back. Altruism is not a trait that can be found in government. Therefore, governments stay away from actions and policies that they in no way can benefit from.
There is no doubt that if quality education were to become common for all, a lot of the rotten practices prevalent in our society will diminish. There is no room for debate there. But the point that I am trying to make is that the day will never come when the government starts doing something about it. Going back to Europe, their enlightenment came when people learned to educate themselves. It wasn't the government which was suddenly infused with a passion for public service. It was the people. That's not the case now, as you have pointed out how education is free in a lot of European countries. But this wasn't the case then. In fact, it is exactly due to the wave of enlightenment that swept across the public, a wave that was incidentally created by themselves in the first place, that the government made itself subservient to the public. And in doing so, the public ensured that their necessary requirements were met, and as we can see all over Europe today, they have succeeded, with widespread quality education and institutions present in Europe this day.
tl;dr: The spark that transformed Europe was public in origin, not governmental. While it would be the best thing in the world if government took steps to provide decent education to its public, you and I both know that's never gonna happen. Here is the crux of the Messiah complex.
