Part of the work of the Ministry of Education’s (Mined) Adult Education department for the 2015-2016 academic year has been concentrated on community projects offering language courses to children, teens, and youth under the age of 17.
According to Dr. Maura Tomasén León, national director of Adult Education, speaking during a press conference, the project, originally undertaken as an experimental initiative in Havana, has now been extended to all language and night-schools across the country.
The Mined representative noted that these courses provide an alternative for those not eligible to enroll in regular day-time language schools, due to age.
The programs are divided into three to four-month long interactive, enjoyable modules which also include popular summer courses as part of educational offers during the vacation period.
Given their positive impact on the population, plans to strengthen these programs, specifically the English, French and Portuguese courses, have been adopted for next year.
Dr. Tomasén León highlighted that better organization and improving quality of learning figure among goals for the Adult Education department this September 2016.
EDUCATING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Tax, financial and legal training, as well as health and safety in the workplace figure among course topics available to self-employed workers nationwide, beginning this summer.
The initiative by Mined’s Technical-Vocational Edcuation Department includes a series of courses for non-state workers running July-August, October-December and February-April.
Information regarding courses for private sector workers will be available through the Ministry of Education, and mass organizations.
The Federation of Cuban Women, Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, and the Cuban Worker’s Federation, in every province and municipality, will work together to select polytechnical schools where courses will take place, with special emphasis on units designed for young people and non-agricultural cooperatives.
Meanwhile, courses offering non-state sector workers professional training will be managed by polytechnical and vocational schools hosting the programs.
Likewise, Mined and mass organizations will coordinate with state entities from every territory in order to offer theoretical-practical activities, while teachers and experts will receive the necessary training to lead courses.
In order to guarantee quality programs, the specialist literature used by polytechnical schools will be utilized, together with any resources state entities might be able to provide.
A YOUTH AND ADULT SYMPOSIUM
The First International Colloquium on Youth and Adult Education will take place, July 11-13, in the Havana Convention Center.
Organized by Mined and the Latin American and Caribbean Pedagogical Institute (IPLAC), the general theme of the event will be: “Youth and adult education at all levels and for all subjects, with a focus on inclusive policies to achieve lifelong learning.”
According to Dr. José del Real Hernández, head of the IPLAC Literacy department, delegations from El Salvador, Brazil, Honduras, Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Canada, Mozambique, as well as representatives from the Organization of Latin American States for Education, Science, and Culture, had confirmed their attendance as of press time.
Real Hernández stressed that this first encounter responds to the current educational needs of young people and adults at a national and international level, and aims to continue contributing to perfecting education for this segment of the population.
