Material and technical resources of schools in Karelia during Khrushchev's time

In terms of chronology, the article covers the period from the second half of the 1950s up to the beginning of the 1960s, the time during which active reforms were introduced into the existing system of education. The reforms were based on the idea of polytechnic education combined with regular education and productive work. Based on the archival sources the issues of schools’ construction, provision of educational institutions with equipment and library stock, conditions and compliance level of material resources to the tasks are studied. Reorganization of the seven-year school system into eight-year school system was often implemented without sufficient provision with necessary material resources. There were not enough rooms for studies and equipment, therefore, the in-depth fulfillment of the state program on labor education was not ensured. It should be noted that for the period of ten years (1956-1966) 130 school buildings were built in the republic. 51 279 pupils were taught in these schools. During these years, the schools significantly updated and enlarged educational material resources. Nevertheless, the schools enriched with new materials appeared not to be prepared to realize the tasks of labor education, particularly due to poor or insufficient financing.