Cuba

The record of Cuban education is outstanding: universal school enrollment and attendance; nearly universal adult literacy; proportional female representation at all levels, including higher education; a strong scientific training base, particularly in chemistry and medicine; consistent pedagogical quality across widely dispersed classrooms; equality of basic educational opportunity, even in impoverished areas, both rural and urban. In a recent regional study of Latin America and the Caribbean, Cuba ranked first in math and science achievement,' at all grade levels, among both males and females. In many ways, Cuba's schools are the equals of schools in OECD countries, despite the fact that Cuba's
economy is that of a developing country.

What has allowed Cuba's education system to perform so well, even under the severe resource constraints of the past decade, is the continuity in 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 (established as part of the commitment to basic education);
3. Complementary educational programs for those outside school-literacy, adult and nonformal education (again as part of the basic education commitment);
4. Mechanisms to foster community participation in management of schools;
5. Great attention to teachers (extensive pre- and in-service training, high status and morale, incentives, transparent system of accountability, strategies for developing a culture of professionalism, rewards for innovation);
6. Low-cost instructional materials of high quality;
7. Teacher and student initiative in adapting the national curriculum and developing instructional materials locally;
8. Carefully structured competition that enhances the system rather than the individual;
9. Explicit strategies to reach rural students and students with special needs.