Education and young people: the growth of primary, secondary and higher…

The idea

This topic examines the expansion of education in Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1985, focusing on the growth of primary, secondary and higher education, the reduction of illiteracy, and state control of the curriculum. You need to explain how the Bolsheviks inherited a largely illiterate population and launched mass literacy campaigns, such as likbez, and how schooling expanded at all levels. You should also analyse how the state controlled what was taught, using education to promote communist ideology and to support industrialisation. A strong answer uses evidence such as the 1919 decree on literacy, the introduction of compulsory primary education, the growth of technical and higher education, and the impact of Stalinist policies on curriculum content. You should also consider the experiences of young people, including organisations like the Komsomol and the Young Pioneers.

What earns the marks

• Explains the growth of primary education, including the introduction of compulsory schooling and the expansion of rural schools, and assesses the extent of success.
• Analyses the expansion of secondary and higher education, including the growth of technical institutes and universities, and the impact on social mobility.
• Explains the reduction of illiteracy through campaigns such as likbez, and evaluates their effectiveness in towns and countryside.
• Analyses state control of the curriculum, including the teaching of Marxist-Leninist ideology, the role of the Communist Party, and changes in subjects and textbooks.
• Discusses the role of youth organisations, such as the Komsomol and Young Pioneers, in political socialisation and education.
• Evaluates the extent to which education served the state's economic and political goals, and how this affected young people's opportunities.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming that education expanded evenly.

  Put it right: Note regional and urban-rural disparities, and the impact of purges on teachers and students.

• Overlooking the reduction of illiteracy.

  Put it right: Include specific evidence such as the 1919 decree and the scale of literacy campaigns, and assess their success.

• Treating state control of the curriculum as static.

  Put it right: Show how it changed over time, for example from the experimental 1920s to the rigid Stalinist curriculum, and later reforms.

• Ignoring the experiences of young people.

  Put it right: Include evidence about youth organisations and the impact of education on their lives and opportunities.

Exam tips

• Structure your answer around the three strands: growth of education, reduction of illiteracy, and state control of the curriculum.
• Use specific evidence, such as the 1919 decree on literacy, the 1930 introduction of compulsory primary education, and the 1930s purges of teachers.
• Explain how state control of the curriculum affected what was taught and how it was taught, and link this to political and economic aims.
• Consider the experiences of young people, including both intended and unintended consequences of educational policies.