Glavprofobr

(Chief Administration for Vocational Training), established in 1921 as part of the People’s Commissariat for Education of the RSFSR (Narkompros) on the basis of the Chief Committee for Vocational-Technical Training (established in 1920 and also called Glavprofobr).

Glavprofobr supervised the training of cadres for all branches of the national economy and culture. Under its authority were the Factory and Plant Apprenticeship schools, technicums, workers’ faculties, and higher educational institutions, as well as the raising of workers’ qualifications. Glavprofobr introduced reforms of advanced schools corresponding to the goals of socialist construction, and it created a system of primary and secondary school vocational training which, on the whole, functioned until 1940. Glavprofobr and the scientific-technical and sociopolitical sections of the State Scientific Council drew up the standard curricula and programs for all levels and branches of vocational training. Glavprofobr also supervised the writing of textbooks and the production of training aids and school equipment.

Glavprofobr was abolished as a result of the decisions adopted by the July (1928) and November (1929) plenums of the Central Committee of the party concerning the training of cadres and in connection with the transfer of institutions of vocational training (primary, secondary, and university level) to the appropriate people’s commissariats and departments. In June 1930 a cadre sector of Narkompros was organized, and universities, pedagogical institutes, technicums, and workers’ faculties remained under its authority.