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Under
American occupation 1898 to 1902 the
education level in Cuba was equal to
American standards. Cuban teachers were sent
for training in the United States to learn
about their method of teaching and learning.
The American administration even translated
their American textbooks in Spanish to be
used in Cuban schools.
Though after the access to independence, the
constitution guarantees equality of chances
to all Cuban, this was not the case. Limited
resources prevented all Cubans to have
access to education on the island. A great
disparity existed between rural and urban
schools.
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Nowadays, the education system
in Cuba is managed by the State with the Ministry of
Education responsible of the pre-primary, primary
and secondary sectors and Ministry of Higher
Education for the universities and other higher
educational institutions. Both ministries regulate
and decide of the policy of their respective
educational institutions.
The education system in Cuba is based on the Marxist
Leninist ideology. Article 8 in the constitution
stipulates: “Society and the state work for the
efficient protection of the youth against influences
contrary to their communist formation.’
In Cuba, education is free and compulsory. From the
age of 4 to 18, the Cuban has to attend school. No
payment is required from the students and they get
financial support to meet their living and medical
expenses but as they turn fifteen they have to work
a month per year either in the agricultural sector
or the community for the state.
Since 1961, there are no private schools or
institutions in socialist Cuba. After the Cuban
revolution all the educational institutions
including parochial schools were nationalised. The
objective of the Cuban socialist government was to
deliver a quality education to every Cuban
irrespective of gender ethnicity religious or
background. The education system was a success with
the increase in the literacy rate to 96% among the
Cuban population and half of the degree holders
being women. The harsh economic conditions in the
1992 with the collapse of the western block the
government has to decrease the funds allocated to
education in the national budget.
However, it should be stressed that education in
Cuba exercise control over the citizens. With the
Cumulative School File (CSF) which not only record
the level attained but also their adherence to the
party communist ideology, the student is prevented
to be fulfilled. No freedom of thought and
expression is allowed for the Cuban student for it
may curtail the choices and career opportunities in
their lives.
