This book investigates the efficacy and structural alignment of the Soviet educational system during the Khrushchev and Brezhnev eras. Mervyn Matthews, a scholar of Soviet society, utilizes historical data and institutional analysis to evaluate how the state attempted to synchronize academic training with its specific economic and social objectives. The work provides a critical assessment of the accessibility of various institutions and the practical outcomes of Soviet pedagogical policies.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational historical survey for understanding the mechanics of Soviet social engineering through education. Readers frequently note the objective, data-driven approach Matthews employs to navigate the complexities of the Soviet bureaucratic system.