The date has great symbolism nationwide, as it recognizes the consecration of tens of thousands of teachers and professors, who devoted themselves to teaching, educating and fostering a vigorous human capital since the beginning of the revolutionary process in 1959.

The date also commemorates the historic moment when, on December 22, 1961, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, proclaimed the country as an illiteracy-free territory, after the successful conclusion of the Literacy Campaign.

At Havana’s Revolution Square, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro declared victory in a great battle that was initiated by teachers and was continued by the popular literacy teachers, and which gained extraordinary and decisive momentum with the young members of the Conrado Benítez brigades.

The educational and cultural feat that placed Cuba among the nations with the lowest illiteracy rate in the world was achieved by deploying some 271,000 volunteer educators throughout the national territory.

The Campaign succeeded in removing more than 700,000 people from ignorance and laid the foundations for the creation of a vigorous universal and free educational system at all levels.

That feat changed the lives of the hitherto illiterate and had a significant influence on the lives of their teachers, but the most significant thing took place within the social and cultural fabric of the nation, which, from then on, achieved an world-renowned educational system.

On December 22, as every year, Cuban teachers and professors will receive moral stimuli such as the José Tey Medal for their contributions to the education of new generations of professionals.

According to a recent speech by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero at the National People’s Power Assembly, which has been in session since last Wednesday until today, educators will receive additional payments for seniority and work overload.

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