Cuba begins new school year with new challenges and endeavors
The new school term begins in Cuba on Monday, at a particularly complex time due to the difficult economic situation the island is going through.

Author: Radio Habana Cuba | internet@granma.cu

september 4, 2023 10:09:00

Photo: Juvenal Balán
Havana, September 4 (RHC)– The new school term begins in Cuba on Monday, at a particularly complex time due to the difficult economic situation the island is going through. According to educational authorities, this situation is caused by the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade by the United States, and in the midst of the confrontation with the strategies of ideological subversion against the Revolution.

According to the Ministry of Education, the country does not renounce, however, to the purpose of providing an educational teaching process with superior quality, and is committed to the implementation of the changes foreseen in the III Educational Improvement.

In this context, this course must be characterized by a permanent evaluation of the priorities established to make it sustainable throughout the year, said recently the head of the sector, Naima Trujillo.

She also highlighted the importance of education as a pillar for the advancement of the nation, the formation of an integral, humanistic general culture, and a model of a person distinguished by knowledge and values, and not by the possession of goods.

Trujillo affirmed that teacher coverage will be guaranteed with well-defined territorial strategies that include the incorporation of students in the last year of the pedagogical universities, and other initiatives.

He pointed out that the main challenges in this regard are associated with ensuring that teachers have a permanent evaluation and that all classrooms maintain the necessary attention.

Regarding the guarantee of literature and teaching material for the new school year, he informed that it starts with an adjusted standard of notebooks and it has not been possible to produce all the titles of notebooks used so far in the educational system.

In view of this situation, those texts that methodologically involve more in the development of skills were selected, he said, and gave an example in the case of first grade with the writing notebook, which is much more demanding for the student than the mathematics one.

This 2023-2024 educational course will also have the particularity that its calendar will include two calls for entrance exams to Higher Education.

Education in Cuba: A comparative regional view
Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study ERCE-2019, conducted by Unesco, confirms Cuban education as one of the great achievements of the Revolution

Author: Yenia Silva Correa | informacion@granma.cu
january 19, 2022 09:01:31

Photo: Ministry of Culture
“In Cuba, education is truly inclusive, there is gender parity and when any difference between males and females is noted, those doing better are the females,” stated Minister of Education Ena Elsa Velázquez Cobiella, referring to results of the Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study ERCE-2019, conducted by Unesco, in terms of socio-emotional indicators.
She added that the research also confirmed that in our island country, there is no difference between rural and urban education, or in the achievement of students from families in different socioeconomic situations, stating, “We are convinced that we have met the sustainable development goals through 2030, on the quantitative order.”
Accomplishments like these make clear that Cuban education remains one of the great achievements of the Revolution and one of its fundamental pillars. Referring to the research conducted, the Minister said, “One factor studied was the acceptance of diversity on the part of students. In the case of Cuba, this indicator is well above the average. We are at 93%, and the regional average is 85%. The same can be seen in terms of self-regulation in school, in which we showed 87%, higher than the regional average (74%), as well as in empathy, which 70% of our students demonstrate, higher than the average of 55%.”

In a recent report, the United Nations organization recognized Cuba’s work to achieve quality, inclusive education

Enrique Moreno Gimeranezjune 25, 2020 10:06:54

Photo: UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized the results of Cuba’s work to achieve quality, inclusive education in the 2020 Global Monitoring Report on Education for All -known as the GEM report.

This global monitoring mechanism is used to evaluate progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDA) No. 4: Ensure inclusive, equitable, quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The 2020 report emphasizes that Cuba has achieved 100% participation in early childhood education, in accordance with target 4.2 of this goal: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood care and development and preschool education, so that they are ready for primary school.”

Yahima Esquivel, Cuba’s permanent representative to UNESCO, noted on her Twitter account that the report “recognizes the effectiveness of the Cuban program “Educate your Child” in ensuring inclusive, quality education from early childhood and in rural contexts,” and praises “Cuba’s Sex Education Program, highlighting its preventive approach, gender and sexual rights, throughout the basic curriculum, optional courses and postgraduate studies.”

The diplomat likewise commented on the international organization’s recognition of Cuba exemplary work on inclusion of students with special needs in the conventional education system.

Once again, UNESCO recognizes the leadership of Cuba in this sector at the world level, a nation that in Article 73 of its Constitution states, “Education is a right of all persons and a responsibility of the state, which guarantees free, accessible, quality education services for comprehensive development, from early childhood to postgraduate university education.”