1939 borders of the U.S.S.R. no fewer than 76 per cent
were illiterate in 1897. In 1917 over 50 per cent of
the males and 80 per cent of the females were illite-
rate. In 1939 the change was magical. Over 90 per
cent of all males and 72 per cent of women were lite-
rate despite their multiplicity of minorities and langu-

Literate> over 9 years old

,-1.1

Jan. *;39
81. i*

Literates among persons aged over 9 years

1010
1940

T'rban districts.
70,0% 80.5% Number of High Schools 91 TOO
rural districts.
45.2% 76.8% Students in them 124,000 600,000

Number of books printed

1913
1939

1914

Libraries .. .. 12.6
Editions of books and
journals .. .. 8C.7

SO million.

701 million*

1929 1938

28.9 70.0

568.1 949.0

1939

77.6 (in 1000s)

(millions)

In 1928-32 the engineering colleges in U.S.S.R.
produced altogether 67,000 "industrial officers." In
the 1932-37 five year period, the number of such gra-
duates rose to 211,000. In 1939, no less than 90 per
cent of all students were maintained by State bursa-
ries. As late as 1937 about 20 per cent of the whole
State expenditure was allocated to education nearly
as much as to defence. And no one can say that Rus-
sia pays no attention to defence.

U.S.S.R. pays special attention to social insurance.

82