The vice minister underlined that Cuban education has a long history, where the writings of the National Hero, Jose Marti, and the contributions of illustrious pedagogues such as Félix Varela, Jose de la Luz y Caballero and Enrique José Varona stand out.

During his keynote lecture, Perdomo highlighted the pedagogical thinking of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who has promoted for more than six decades an upward development in education in the Caribbean nation.

Fidel Castro conceived education as one of the fundamental axes in the strategy directed to the conquest of sovereignty, social justice and the necessary fight against underdevelopment’, he said.

He recalled that after the revolutionary triumph in 1959, a literacy campaign, the university reform and the foundation of the first scientific research centers were developed on the island.

He pointed out that the pedagogy of the historic leader, faithful to his Marti’s heritage, is deployed in three main dimensions: the ethnicity of the pedagogical act, the educational virtue of example and education in values.

The Vice Premier referred to the challenges faced by Cuban universities in preparing young people to fulfill their role in the country’s development.

He explained that these challenges are included in the Comprehensive Policy for Children, Adolescents and Youth, approved in July last year by the National Assembly of People’s Power (parliament), which will be the basis for a new law to be submitted to the legislative body in December this year.

The policy, he said, corresponds to the importance that the State attaches to children, adolescents and young people, while seeking to articulate all the factors involved in the living conditions of these age groups, mainstreaming their rights and conceiving the new generations as strategic actors in the country’s development.

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