Likbez

Likbez (Russian: ликбе́з = ликвида́ция безгра́мотности) was a campaign of eradication of illiteracy in Soviet Russia in 1920s and 1930s. It was started on December 26, 1919, when Lenin signed the decree "About eradication of illiteracy among the population of RSFSR" ("О ликвидации безграмотности среди населения РСФСР"). According to this decree, all people from 8 to 50 years old had to become literate in their native language.

The campaign was generally successful. In 1917, only 32% of all adults in Russia were literate. In 1926, the percentage of literate people rose to 60.9%. According to the census of 1939, literate people were 89.7% (RSFSR, ages 9 – 49). Since 1950s, Soviet Union had become a country of nearly 100% literacy.