Cuba´s First VP Stresses Importance of Specialized Teaching

We cannot talk about improving education, without including art and sport teaching, First Vice-President Miguel Díaz-Canel, during the first day of discussions of Cuban lawmakers.

Speaking at the opening session of the Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly of People's Power he said that the problems identified in these sectors should be resolved in four levels of management.

Diaz-Canel said that the work of the specialized centers should be governed by the Ministries of Education and Higher Education, to whom all other institutions must be subordinated to and where problems such as shortage or lack of study materials and teaching aids must be resolved.

Territorial governments must be involved in solving needs of these institutions, which depend in turn on the ability of their managements, and quality of their cadres, for me the most important level, he said.

In the report presented by the committee they emphasized on the difficulties coming from the deterioration of sporting and artistic implements, the low motivation of students to subjects like chemistry, physics, history and civics, and encouragement of teachers, who, however, claimed new means such as films, maps, date books and internet access.

In the world these types of education are a luxury, and in Cuba they are accessible to all, Diaz-Canel said teachers are very good, so students do not lack qualified staff to lean on.

He warned that Cuba still needs to work on changing minds and broaden the spectrum of sports students who may aspire to any higher-level career, and being, moreover, doctors, engineers, and translators.

No doubt the success of Cuban art and sport depends almost entirely of graduates from these institutions, which distinguishes the nation among the world elite in these sectors, he said.