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Fact Check: was in the soviet era in Russia its education system the best in the world?

Fact Check: was in the soviet era in Russia its education system the best in the world?

Published June 30, 2025
by TruthOrFake AI
±
VERDICT
Partially True

# Fact Check: Was the Soviet Era Education System in Russia the Best in the World? ## What We Know The education system in the Soviet Union was char...

Fact Check: Was the Soviet Era Education System in Russia the Best in the World?

What We Know

The education system in the Soviet Union was characterized by its commitment to universal access and the eradication of illiteracy. Following the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the Soviet government implemented policies aimed at providing education as a constitutional right to all citizens through state schools and universities. By the late 1930s, the literacy rate had significantly improved, with 86% of men and 65% of women being literate, leading to an overall literacy rate of 75% (Education in the Soviet Union).

The Soviet education system was praised for its focus on science, technology, and engineering, which were critical for the country's modernization efforts. According to an article from Russia Beyond, the educational framework was designed to support the ambitious goals of the state, producing a highly educated workforce that contributed to various fields, including the natural and social sciences.

However, the system was not without its flaws. The curriculum underwent numerous changes, often abandoning traditional subjects in favor of thematic learning, which was criticized for being ineffective. By 1928, the system reverted to a more traditional subject-based curriculum due to these failures (Education in the Soviet Union).

Analysis

The claim that the Soviet education system was the best in the world is subjective and depends on the criteria used for evaluation. On one hand, the Soviet Union achieved remarkable success in increasing literacy and providing education to a vast population, which is often highlighted as a significant achievement (Education in the Soviet Union). The emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education produced skilled professionals who contributed to the Soviet Union's technological advancements.

On the other hand, the effectiveness of the education system can be questioned due to its rigid structure and the political indoctrination that accompanied the curriculum. Critics argue that while the system produced a technically skilled workforce, it often stifled creativity and critical thinking (Russia Beyond). Furthermore, the claim lacks comparative context; while the Soviet education system had strengths, other countries, particularly in the West, have also developed robust educational frameworks that emphasize creativity and critical thinking alongside technical skills.

The sources used to evaluate this claim vary in reliability. The Wikipedia article on Soviet education provides a comprehensive overview but may lack depth in critical analysis. In contrast, the article from Russia Beyond presents a more favorable view of the Soviet system, potentially reflecting a bias towards a nostalgic interpretation of Soviet achievements (Education in the Soviet Union, Russia Beyond).

Conclusion

The claim that the Soviet education system was the best in the world is Partially True. While it successfully eradicated illiteracy and produced a highly educated workforce, it also had significant shortcomings, including a lack of emphasis on creativity and critical thinking. The assessment of "best" is subjective and varies based on the criteria used for comparison. Therefore, while the Soviet education system had notable achievements, it cannot be unequivocally labeled as the best globally.

Sources

  1. Education in the Soviet Union
  2. Here's why education in the USSR was among the best

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Detailed fact-check analysis of: By quarterbacking Israel’s attack on Iran, Trump brought an end to a particularly demoralizing era in U.S. history The main reason Israel’s massive attack on Iranian leadership, nuclear facilities, and other targets came as a surprise is that no one believes American presidents when they talk about protecting Americans and advancing our interests—especially when they’re talking about the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ever since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, U.S. presidents have wanted an accommodation with Iran—not revenge for holding 52 Americans captive for 444 days, but comity. Ronald Reagan told Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, but when the Iranians’ Lebanese ally Hezbollah killed 17 Americans at the U.S. embassy in Beirut and 241 at the Marine barracks in 1983, he flinched. Bill Clinton wanted a deal with Iran so badly, he helped hide the Iranians’ sponsorship of the group that killed 19 airmen at Khobar Towers in 1996. 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Did Iran lobbyist Trita Parsi tell officials in Tehran that his colleagues from the Quincy Institute and other Koch-funded policy experts who were working in the administration had it in the bag? Don’t worry about the neocons—my guys are steering things in a good way. It seems that, like the Iranians, the Koch network got caught in its own echo chamber. Will Rising Lion really split MAGA, as some MAGA influencers are warning? Polls say no. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 84 percent of likely voters believe Iran cannot have a bomb. Only 9 percent disagree. More Americans think it’s OK for men to play in women’s sports, 21 percent, than those who think Iran should have a bomb. According to the Rasmussen poll, 57 percent favor military action to stop Iran from getting nukes—which means there are Kamala Harris voters, 50 percent of them, along with 73 percent of Trump’s base, who are fine with bombing Iran to stop the mullahs’ nuclear weapons program. A Harvard/Harris poll shows 60 percent support for Israel “to take out Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” with 78 percent support among Republicans. Who thinks it’s reasonable for Iran to have a bomb? In a lengthy X post attacking Mark Levin and others who think an Iranian bomb is bad for America, Tucker Carlson made the case for the Iranian bomb. Iran, he wrote, “knows it’s unwise to give up its weapons program entirely. Muammar Gaddafi tried that and wound up sodomized with a bayonet. As soon as Gaddafi disarmed, NATO killed him. Iran’s leaders saw that happen. They learned the obvious lesson.” The Iranians definitely want a bomb to defend themselves against the United States—NATO, if you prefer—but that’s hardly America First. The threat that an Iranian bomb poses to the United States isn’t really that the Iranians will launch missiles at U.S. cities—not yet, anyway—but that it gives the regime a nuclear shield. It’s bad for America if a nuclear Iran closes down the Straits of Hormuz to set the price for global energy markets. It’s bad for America if a nuclear Iran wages terror attacks on American soil, as it has plotted to kill Trump. An Iranian bomb forces American policymakers, including Trump, to reconfigure policies and priorities to suit the interests of a terror state. It’s fair to argue that your country shouldn’t attack Iran to prevent it from getting a bomb, but reasoning that a terror state that has been killing Americans for nearly half a century needs the bomb to protect itself from the country you live in is nuts. Maybe some Trump supporters are angry and confused because Trump was advertised as the peace candidate. But “no new wars” is a slogan, not a policy. The purpose of U.S. policy is to advance America’s peace and prosperity, and Trump was chosen to change the course of American leadership habituated to confusing U.S. interests with everyone else’s. 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