ABSTRACT
‘It is obvious that unless illiteracy can be overcome it is I meaningless to talk of successful cultural and educational JL work.’ 1 ‘The immediate economic tasks cannot wait until we have formed skilled workers, educated and cultured citizens through the schools, so those who are already engaged in production must become competent. That is why our educational policy, parallel with the regular schooling of youth, gives priority to the task of educating adults, and as the prior condition for education and enlightenment, to the wiping out of illiteracy.’ 2 The Five Year Plan lays down that illiteracy is to disappear by the end of 1951. How far is it likely that this will be actually carried out?
