This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a book on the present state of Soviet education, with historical background for purposes of comparison. The introductory chapter traces the progress of Soviet education from 1917 to 1967. Comparative statistics are quoted to illustrate the results of the revolution that have taken place in the half century of Soviet rule. In Czarist Russia, about 75% of the population was illiterate, whereas according to the 1959 census, 97.8% of those in the 9-49 groups are literate today. Many other statistics are presented to show the benefits of compulsory free education in elementary schools, evening schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning. There are chapters on preschool training, secondary general polytechnical schools, curriculum development, young Communist organizations, teachers, teacher training, educational principles and techniques, vocational and technical education, and the state of public education in each of the republics of the USSR. The numbers of students enrolled in various schools are given for comparisons for the years 1914/15--10 1/2 million; 1940/41--47 1/2 million; 1945/46--37 1/2 million; 1966/67--73 1/2 million. (Author/GDB)