Adult Education in the Soviet Union.

Overview & Synopsis

Soviet adult education has a fourfold purpose. Adult education is a channel by which adults complete their secondary education, a means to upgrade occupational skills, a means of obtaining the skills needed to make a career change, and a vehicle for eliminating class distinctions. Forty-five percent of all participants in Soviet adult education are over 35 years of age (full-time education is restricted to those under the age of 30). Correspondence courses are the most popular form of adult education. Other popular programs are the people's universities (which are similar to Western junior colleges), the Likbeze (a literacy program that provides literacy courses targeted toward adults and produces educational literature), on-the-job training, and self-education. The predominant form of adult education is political instruction, with courses arranged by employers and local houses and clubs of political education. Although not legislatively required, adult education is avidly encouraged by the Soviet government. Major issues affecting Soviet adult education are the conflict between creativity and tradition, the scarcity of labor resources, outside threats of capitalism, and inadequate school administration. Twenty-one references are listed. (MN)