If you want contemporary examples compare Cuba to any country of your choice. It has higher rates of literacy than the UK and USA currently.Marmite wrote:Why are we talking about the lack of universal education in the UK 250 years ago? That's ridiculous.
The USSR had impressive rates of growth. Many in the west admired its GDP figures in awe and discussed how to emulate them. Many western countries charge an arm and a leg for university education because it's more profitable for the capitalists.The fact is the advancement of economies in the west - thanks to capitalism - have created free universal education for everyone. Without the benefits of that capitalism you despise, the only education available was for the scion of the rich, like yourself. I call that progress, don't you?
In summary, if you want the best education with the resources you currently have look to communism, if you want to grow the economy so you can devote more resources to education try communism.