EDUCATION IN CUBA Political value of education Education

EDUCATION IN CUBA

Political value of education Education as the main pathway to development Education of citizens as a major tool to shape society at large Education as the tool for citizens to interpret their societies Level and quality of education as a major factor for people´s engagement in political processes

A history of pedagogical development in Cuba More than two centuries of thinkers on education and measures of the revolution. Nationalization of education Voluntary teachers Literacy campaign Professional training for teachers in an increasing network of schools Help to other people with scholarships foreigners in Cuba Method against illiteracy “Yo si Puedo” (Yes, I can)

Basic ideas of the system Education as a right Education is public and free at all levels Access should be a function of capacity and interest, not of social background or financial situation Studying and working as integral parts of education Education is intended to provide the broadest possible understanding of reality Education include political and social sciences, philosophy and political economy for all students

Panoramic LEVEL SCHOOLS % PROF. UNIV. D. • Pre-school (formal or informal) -------------------------------1804 • Primary: 6 years ------------------------ Mandatory -----6887 -------- 75, 4 • Basic secondary: 3 years ----------------------------------- 1010 -------- 83, 2 • Pre-university: 3 years ------------------------------------- 302 --------- 93, 2 • Technical-professional education: 2 to 4 years ---------------------- 406 --------- 80, 9 • Adult education: * worker- farmer education (6 th grade) ----------- 425 --------- 95, 7 * worker- farmer secondary (9 th grade) * worker- farmer faculty (12 th grade) language schools ------------------------ 88 • Special education ----------------------------------------- 349 --------- 85, 2 • Higher education: 3 years for higher technicians; 4 -5 years grad; ----------- 50 6 years for Medicine; 2 years for MSc; 0 -5 years for Ph. D Source: NOSI 2018, MINED

Panoramic 2018/19 year • 10 717 schools * 4967 urban * 3017 rural * 2600 other (art, sports, special…) • 240 958 professors in class (70, 9% women) * 186 930 urban * 36 873 rural * 17 155 other (art, sports, special…) • 2 016 574 students (49, 9 % women; 494 054 grad school) • Retention (%): primary 99, 7; secondary 93, 1; preuniversitary 83, 6; médium level technician 81, 3; qualified worker 78, 1 Source: NOSI 2018

% GDP on Education (Average) • Rich nations: 3, 6 % GDP • World: 4, 6% GDP • Latin America: 5, 1% GDP Source: Jabonero, M. (2019) general secretary of the Organization of Iberoamerican States for Education, Congress Pedagogy 2019 World: 4, 8% GDP Source: World Bank (2015)

Cuban Budget 2020, important amount for social sectors as Education, Health, Culture and Sports

The financial resources will guarantee the provision of basic education, health, culture, sports, community services and defense services of the country, as well as the implementation of approved social policies, including the continuity of the salary increase in the budgeted sector and the social security pensions

What does the budget include? • Educational services (professors, administratives, methodologists) • Materials (pencils, notebooks, workbooks) • Uniform (blouses, skirts, trousers, shirts, some cases shoes) • Facilities (classrooms, labs, sports centers) • Snacks and/or lunch (depending on the level) • Transportation (Special Education) • Educational Channel (Education on TV)

Example of Educational Channel programme year 2018 -2019