Education in Cuba
Term Paper ID:43532
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Essay Subject:
An examination of the state of post-revolutionary Cuban education and both its gains and contradictions... More...
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Name NameCourseProfessorDate Education in Havana The island of Cuba which has been under the totalitarian governmentof Fidel Castro since the year is a country filled withcontradictions While hunger deterioration of infrastructure and otherproblems persist throughout the country the Castro government issucceeding in navigating a course that has thus far avoided the shoals of complete starvation and rampant unemployment while maintaining with somedifficulties its commitment to free healthcare and education Zimbalist Even with its great commitment to education the average salary inCuba for
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When a work group in a factory or in a cane field tries to analyze its productivity for the week or month, the process is regarded as one of mutual education. Increasingly, the pressures andproblems happening in Cuban society have a direct effect on Name 8what is goes on Cuban schools, especially in terms of how Cuban studentsview their future prospects and especially in Havana, a city in Cuba thatfaces a large influx of foreigners and tourists who travel freely to Cubawithout the travel restrictions imposed by United States government. Print."MEDICC." N.p., n.d. N.p., n.d. 19 July 2 9. Melbourne: Resistance Books, 2 . Web. The daughters of the wealthy families attended the convents or were educated abroad, and the sons who intended following a profession or commercial field Name 3 were educated, according to choice, at Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, or in the United States. I can't say if it's because of the economic crisis we've lived through in Cuba since the past decade or if it's due to the macho culture we see piped-in through TV soaps, movies and videos." (Havana Times)In a place such as Havana, both possibilities are quite plausible. Name 1NameCourseProfessorDate Education in Havana The island of Cuba, which has been under the totalitarian governmentof Fidel Castro since the year 1959, is a country filled withcontradictions. .Aguirre, Benigno, and Roberto Vichot. Web. "The Reliability of Cuba's Educational Statistics." Comparative Education Review 42.2 (1998): 118- 38. 15 July 2 9. Web. JSTOR. TheSpanish arrived in Cuba and the late 15th century, eliminated the nativepopulation, and turned Cuba into a slave trading post (Jorquera 3 ).During the age of the Republic, Cuban government enacted a series ofregulations and laws that helped systematize racism throughout the countryand were reminiscent of Grandfather andJim Crow laws in the United States. .Jorquera, Jorge. The Cuban government also established "Schools of Revolutionary Instruction" in the same year. "When I was girl we all wanted to go to the university and most went, but now it's no longer like that. Cuba As Alternative: An Introduction to Cuba's Socialist Revolution. 1 July 2 9. 62 The project of recruiting teenage students and training them into elementary teachers was another early educational innovation, starting in 196 . .Allen, Garlen E. After several years of preparation, these worker-students would begin regular study in universities. The Cubans explicitly see education as fundamentally integrated into all social processes. One of the ideologicalaims of the revolution was to stamp out inequality by leveling theproverbial playing field between different races, different sexes, anddifferent classes - yet the reality is that some of these chasms havedeepened due to the reality of Cuba's bleak economical situation. New York: Crowell, 1981. With illiteracyrates that effected over sixty percent of the entire nation, as well as aschool system in shambles and proper education guaranteed for only theupper-echelon of Cuban society, these laws hit the impoverished, especiallyCuba's ex-slave population of Blacks, particularly hard. JSTOR. N.p., n.d. They dream of finding a successful man to take care of them. Web. 15 July 2 9. That which should be dictated is the public condemnation againstany people so filled with old vices and prejudices that they woulddiscriminate against Cubans over questions of lighter or darker skin. 1 July 2 9. Indeed, Jose Ramon Fernandez, Cuba's former minister of education, in his speech pressed the promotion of students as a "fundamental indicator" of teaching efficiency. Scholars attended the homes of the teachers, and there were no separates school-houses, and the necessary accessories in the line of maps, black-boards, or other facilities were lacking. Even with its great commitment to education, the average salary inCuba for even the most educated workers such as university professors anddoctors is below thirty dollars per month) (BBC). However, there is reasonablesuspicion to question if students do not repeat grades based solely on uponacademic merit or if social pressure to maintain Cuba's reputation foracademic excellence (which has been for many years touted in Castro's manylong-winded speeches): "The low proportions of grade repeaters in Cuba are largely the result of social pressures on teachers to promote students at the preuniversity levels. Allen, who had a wealth of personal experience, writes of hisper: One of the first points necessary to an understanding of the Cuban educational system is that it is not separate in any way from what is going on in the rest of society. JSTOR. (276)It would seem that Allen's assessment is correct, especially in terms ofthe Cuban educational system not being separate from what ever else isgoing on in Cuban society as a whole. Althoughthe government sanctions this type of behavior and does its best to preventit by doing things such as banning its citizens from loitering aroundhotels, it nonetheless continues to be a major source of undergroundcommerce, especially in Havana. Revolutionary Cuba. "It's more difficult to pursue certain studies in regions of the country that are far away from the urban centers, especially when you live in a family with economic problems and working is crucial, or when you grow up under marginal conditions," commented Sonia Valdes, a 32-year- old engineer."We are a black family. This system of racism and classism effectively shut outBlacks and other socioeconomically disadvantaged groups from receiving agood and equitable education. JSTOR. Before 1977, first-level education encompassed 7 years of schooling. Togain a deeper understanding of the effects of educational reforms in Cubaand the problems that still exist requires a study of issues at work notonly in Havana, but in the country as a whole. Reminiscent of grade inflation in the United States, grade promotion in Cuba is used to gauge the success of teachers and administrators. In fact, there are Name 9entire websites, such as Cubamania.com and Cubaamor.com that whereEuropeans and Canadians exchange tips about seeking out "jinateros/as"(Cuban prostitutes) and dating and marrying Cuban men and women (source:Cubamania.com, Cubaamor.com). Web. While hunger, deterioration of infrastructure and otherproblems persist throughout the country, "the Castro government issucceeding in navigating a course that has thus far avoided the shoals of(complete) starvation and rampant unemployment while maintaining, with somedifficulties, its commitment to free healthcare and education." (Zimbalist155). Good teachers presumably have high percentages of their students promoted, and this plays a role in career advancement and prestige. The standard of education in the schools had never risen above the primitive method of learning by rote, the principal text-book being the catechism, and the girls were taught embroidery. Web. (EvenBatista, during his term as President of the Republic, was banned at theHavana Yacht Club, the most exclusive of the upper class clubs.) Theseclubs controlled private beaches in Havana which, therefore, excludedblacks. .Cannon, Terence. "Revolution in Education: China and Cuba in Global Context." Journal of World History 14.3 (2 3): 359-91. BBC, n.d. The second level is divided into two 3-year stages corresponding to ages 12-17, while the third level consists of college, university, and technical training." (Aguirre 12 ).Cuba is famed for its low student to teacher ratio, low levels of graderepeating students, and low drop out rates. A recent article run in the Havana times profiled the lives of twoteenage sisters living in Havana and their diverging plans for theirfuture, which highlighted not only gender issues but social issues directlyconnected to the problem of Cuban citizens, for all of their education, notbeing able to reap any sort of economic benefits from their academicendeavors. E. The Cuban system, modeled after that put into place by the USSR,stressed a connection between education and "productive labor" and touted a"rigorous system of academic disciples, strict distinctions betweensubjects and grades, high rewards for academic excellence, and education-based social distinctions (Cheng 365). .Zimbalist, Andrew. In Havana, upperclass social clubs excluded blacks and mulattos systematically. A Centerpiece of Cuba's mission toeducate all of its citizens is undoubtedly La Universidad de Havana in thecountry's capital, which not only offers free education to all of Cubancitizens, but also is regarded as an esteemed university internationallyand educates many foreign students, particularly in the medical field.Although the United States, with its anti-Castro policies, have beendismissive of Cuban achievements in education by arguing that the countryhad high literacy rates before Castro's rise to power, the argument failsto take into consideration issues of equal access and racism and classismthat prevented both Black, poor, and rural children from achieving aneducation equal to their white Name 2and upper-class counterparts. No one should Name 5consider themselves a pure race, much less a superior race" (Cannon 2 1).This desire to equalize gaps between the most marginalized of Cuban'ssociety was reflected in all aspects of Revolutionary education reforms: "What distinguished this school system from other socialist countries' party academies was that the ages of the students were all above fourteen; most school sites were chosen in rugged, isolated, rural areas; and the students had to work partly for their own expenses. Cuba, Cuba and more Cuban links for Art, Music, Travel and everything else Cuban. In the area of adult education, the "Worker-Farmer Faculties" comprised a nationwide network, taking the form of half-day work, half-day study, designed to raise the educational levels of working people for university study. Marginality reproduces itself, and it's not always easy to break out of it," assured Valdes, the only one of four siblings to graduate from a university. JSTOR. Education does not begin each day with a person's arrival at school and end at the close of the school day; nor does it begin with a child's entrance into primary school and end with his graduation from high school or the university. N.p., 12 July 2 9. In 1962 the program had twelve regional schools and one national institution, with 12, students in total. However, unlike many other counties who are more developed and/orfunction based upon a capitalist system, the tangible rewards for attendingthe universityand becoming a professional are oftentimes few and far in between.Ironically, a foreign student is able to come to Cuba to study to become adoctor and earn more in their home country than a native born and educateddoctor will see earn in his or her entire lifetime. "Science, Education, and Culture in Revolutionary Cuba." The American Biology Teacher 36.5 (1974): 267-74. 18 July 2 9. "Cuba Education Gains-Contradictions." The Havana Times. Before the Revolution I lived in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana, where we still live today. Likewise, access is not the same for blacks and whites, residents of rural areas and those in Havana, or for internal migrants in a big city and native residents. Despite the disparatenature of Cuba's educational system, it is hard to ignore its statistics.In today's Cuba, literacy rates are at ninety-nine percent and student'stest scores in science, mathematics, and language arts excel past otherstudents in other nations (Aguirre 13 ). The attendance was governed by the ability of the parents of the pupils to contribute a fee; the children of the very poor were therefore neglected, and during the war the schools were practically closed. "Cuba: A Sketch." The American Journal of Nursing 4.9 (19 4): 696-7 2. These first six grades constitute the first level of formal education. Much as the entire island nation of Cuba represents a livingdichotomy, so does its educational system. During the "Year of Education" inCuba, in 1961: "The government launched its literacy campaign, closed all secondary schools, and sent more than 1 , students (organized into "brigades") to the countryside to live with and teach peasants not only letters, but also ideology, for six months. (Higher education in Cuba sees its role asintegrally linked to the drive for democratization which paves the way forfurther improvements for the life and wellbeing of the Cuban society.However, to label Cuba a complete utopian success would be a half-truth. The article from the Havana Times also pointsto a disturbing reality of continued access issues for rural and Blackstudents in Cuba: "Although the Cuban constitution guarantees equality between women and men, the reality is much more complex. A 19 4 article written on the state of Cuban education by health careresearcher described the state of pre-revolutionary education: The census completed this year showed a total population of one million five hundred and seventy-two thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, of whom thirty-four percent could read and write, sixty-six per cent being illiterate. Web. The objective of this school system, as Castro once explained, was the ideological formation of the revolutionary and then, by means of the revolutionaries, the ideological formation of the rest of the people." (Cheng 376)In his appeal to the working class, Fidel Castro made a point to addressracism in Cuba and its demoralizing effects upon the Black population.Following the victory of the communist party Fidel told a rally of workersin Havana: "It should not be necessary to dictate a law against an absurdprejudice. "Dateline Cuba: Hanging on in Havana." Foreign Policy 92(1993): 151-67. Middle class clubs, especially those organised around professionalassociations, admitted those blacks (only) who belonged to the respectiveprofessional organizations" Name 4(Jorquera 3 ). Weare a mixed race from Africa and Spain. Web. More than half the population consisted of native-born whites. We're seeing girls among the younger generation who don't want to study and sometimes they don't want to work either. Education is, rather, a constant task, involving the interaction of people-parents, teachers, youth leaders, and adult leaders-on all levels at all times. Print.Cheng, Yinghong, and Patrick Manning. 16 July 2 9. In Castro's terms, the country is one large school. Web. Theoretically, any of Cuba'scitizens has the ability to go to a school and study a disciple of theirchoosing. These men retained through several years' residence abroad true patriotic instincts, which finally, thus disseminated, attracted the attention of the world in their prolonged endeavors to liberate their country from the oppressors rule. 19 July 2 9. .CubaMania! "For Alina Suarez, the girl's 37-year-old mother, her daughters are a reflection of the times. Accordingto the organization: Name 1 "Currently, nearly 3 , foreign students study medicine in Cuba. .Cuba Amor - Powered by vBulletin. However,Cuba still stands as an example of the great strides that can be achieved,even in a nation with very limited resources, when an entire nation butsits collective effort behind a goal. .Hibbard, M. Interestingly, unlike other socioeconomically disadvantages countrieswhere outside organizations come in to assist and built infrastructure,organizations such as MEDICC (Medical Educational Cooperation With Cuba)come to Cuba in order learn from Cuba's top notch universities. These early policies, while reflecting the urgent needs of literacy and making education more accessible for working people, were in accordance with some ideological guidelines, notably the integration of school with society and study with work Name 6 Education in Havana (and in Cuba as an entire nation) is structured inthe following fashion: "Preprimary education begins for Cuban children at age 5, andeducation is mandatory for 6-11-year-olds. Manyeducated women and men alike in Cuba have been able to earn money bymoonlighting as prostitutes among Cuba's many foreign tourists. Although Fernandez stressed "top Name 7 promotion with top quality," in practice the goal translates as pressure on teachers to advance their careers by having impressive promotion rates." (Aquirre 134)In his article "Science, Education, and Culture in Revolutionary Cuba",Garland E. (Hibbard 7 )Pre-revolutionary Cuba was marred by a history of socioeconomicdiscrimination not only against Blacks, but against the impoverished. In the 195 's, the socialist mission of Fidel Castro and therevolution would have major implications for the state of education inCuba. The trainees had to study and work in the campus set in the mountains for four years, with the last two years in the Makarenko Pedagogical Institute near Havana. The principles discussed abstractly in the classroom are continually being put into concrete practice in solving very real, everyday problems. Web. Of these, nearly 1 , from 29 countries are enrolled in the Latin American Medical School program (including students from Africa and the United States), in which graduates commit to returning to medically underserved communities to practice for various lengths of time." (MEDICC)This partnership reflects the unique reality of students coming fromdeveloped counties to what is widely considered a third-world,underdeveloped county in order to achieve better global health outcomes andoffers a model for other nations who, regardless of their socioeconomicalrealities, may perhaps have something to contribute to the globalcommunity. 19 July 2 9. Upon graduation, the students would not only be assigned teaching jobs in rural areas but also would assume political leadership at the local level. The constitution drafted in 19 1effectively imposed discriminatory practices which hit blacks the hardest.Voting was restricted to males over 21 years of age who could either readand write, or owned real property valued over 25 pesos, or proved thatthey had fought in the liberation army" (Jorquera 3 ). ."BBC NEWS | Americas | Cuba to abandon salary equality." BBC NEWS. Works CitedAcosta, Dalia.
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