The Cuban education system : lessons and dilemmas

The Cuban educational system has long enjoyed a reputation for high quality. This paper highlights ways in which the Cuban educational system, despite the dismal economic picture of the past decade, adopted features that research has identified as characterizing a high-quality education system. The papers sees what has allowed Cuba's education system to perform so well is the continuity its education strategies, sustained high levels of investments in education, and a comprehensive and carefully structured system, characterized by: 1) quality basic education and universal access to primary and secondary school; 2)comprehensive early childhood education and student health programs; 3) complementary educational programs for those outside school; 4) mechanisms to foster community participation in school management; 5) great attention to teachers; 6) low-cost instructional materials of high quality; 7) teacher and student initiative in adapting the national curriculum locally; 8) carefully structured competition; 9) explicit strategies to reach rural students; 10) strategies to link school and work; and 11) an emphasis on education for social cohesion and values education.