ABSTRACT
EvendetractorsmustadmitthatthesocialistregimesofCentralandEastemEuropeandthe SovietUnionmadesornestunningadvancesineducation.Bythelatel980s,mostcountries intheregionhadinstitutedaminimumof8to1Oyearsoffree,compulsoryeducationfor allchildren.Enrollment,retention,andachievementlevelsmatchedorsurpassedthoseof manyindustrializednations.Andequalaccessforgirlswasassured.Govemmentsalsoprovidedchildcareandrecreationalactivitiesfrominfancywellintoadulthood.
