educating cuba
serious business this learning ..................................................
The system of education and extremely high literacy rate is one of the resounding successes of Fidel's's revolutionary governement. It is in fact the most successful in latin america, by far. Pre-revolution, education was not available to over half of Cuba's children. The first step, in 1960, was the programme initiated to stamp out illiteracy, which was accomplished, to 95%, within one year. Today education is compulsary up to 9th grade. Children in rural areas attend boarding school. If the student chooses to continue his studies, technical school, pre-university college, and university are free. However an entry exam is required before acceptance in university. And being allowed to take that exam is determined by the student's political affiliation to the Communist Party. Aha! A fly in the ointment of equality of education for all :)) 7% of nationals have graduated from college, 4% have degrees. All students wear free government- issued standard uniforms, the various colours denoting the grade level, not the school.
lead image : child, name unknown, outdoors in plaza vieja, listening to her teacher.
educating cuba
serious business this learning ..................................................
The system of education and extremely high literacy rate is one of the resounding successes of Fidel's's revolutionary governement. It is in fact the most successful in latin america, by far. Pre-revolution, education was not available to over half of Cuba's children. The first step, in 1960, was the programme initiated to stamp out illiteracy, which was accomplished, to 95%, within one year. Today education is compulsary up to 9th grade. Children in rural areas attend boarding school. If the student chooses to continue his studies, technical school, pre-university college, and university are free. However an entry exam is required before acceptance in university. And being allowed to take that exam is determined by the student's political affiliation to the Communist Party. Aha! A fly in the ointment of equality of education for all :)) 7% of nationals have graduated from college, 4% have degrees. All students wear free government- issued standard uniforms, the various colours denoting the grade level, not the school.
lead image : child, name unknown, outdoors in plaza vieja, listening to her teacher.