Cuban Education System

The history of the Cuban education system dates back to the time of Spanish colonialism, with the University of Havana, Cuba's oldest university, founded in 1727. In the early 1900s, 36.1% of the population in Cuba was literate, although this rate was considerably higher than in Latin America overall, it showed that a large portion of the Cuban population had no access to education at all. The first serious reforms to the education system in Cuba were made in the 1950s. With the new regulations put into effect in the 1950s, emphasis was placed on access to education for all segments of the population in the Cuban education system.

Education in Cuba has always been free, Cuban citizens can only enroll in schools for free by taking certain exams. The language of instruction in Cuba is Spanish, while English language education begins in the 3rd grade of primary school and continues in university. The duration of compulsory education in the Cuban education system is 9 years, 6 years of primary school and 3 years of secondary school.

According to OECD reports, the Cuban government allocates more than 10% of its gross national product to education. The literacy rate in Cuba has been announced at 96% in recent years, which is quite high compared to other Latin American countries.

What is Cuba's Education Policy?

The education system in Cuba was nationalized in 1959 and all schools in Cuba were taken under the control of the Cuban Ministry of Education. The basic principles on which Cuba's education policy is based are equal opportunities and values. Cuba's education policy emphasizes that all segments of the population can access education and receive quality education, and importance is also given to equal opportunities in education according to gender.

Cuba's education policy aims to instill certain values in students during compulsory education; these values are hard work, self-discipline and nationalism. According to Cuba's education policy, students take classes such as dance, drama and gardening in addition to academic education in order to develop their social skills.

What is the Education Situation Like in Cuba?

Basic statistics showing the status of education in Cuba are listed below.

The literacy rate in Cuba is 99.71%, the 22nd highest ratio of literate population to total population in the country.
The ratio of national income allocated to education in Cuba is 12.86%, which ranks it 2nd among OECD countries.
Cuba's high school graduation rate is 98.5%, making it the 46th country with the highest high school graduation rate.
The number of teachers per 1000 students in primary education is 7.87, the 25th country with the highest number of teachers per 1000 students.
According to the World Bank's 2020 report on development indicators, the ratio of university enrollments in Cuba to the total population is 46.72%.

How Many Schools Are There In Cuba?

There are 10,593 schools in Cuba, including 6,878 primary schools, 1,176 secondary schools, 414 high schools, 486 technical schools, 365 vocational special education institutions, 365 special education schools, 375 adult education institutions and 23 educational vocational schools. Cuba is one of the countries with the most students per teacher statistics in the world; there are 47 citizens per teacher in Cuba.

How Many Years Does Compulsory Education Last in Cuba?

Compulsory education in Cuba is 9 years; primary school education covers the age range of 6-11 and lasts 6 years, secondary school education covers the age range of 12-15 and lasts 3 years.

What are the stages of education in Cuba?

The stages of education in Cuba are listed below.

Preschool education in Cuba
Primary school education in Cuba
Secondary education in Cuba
High school education in Cuba
University education in Cuba

What is Preschool Education Like in Cuba?

The aim of preschool education in Cuba is to guide families in encouraging the development of their children based on their own experiences. Preschool education in Cuba covers children between the ages of 0-6 and is not compulsory, but according to a report published by UNESCO in 2015, 99.5% of children between the ages of 0-6 receive education in preschool education institutions.

In Cuba, preschool education aims to support the development of children, as well as to help women work freely; for this reason, preschool education covers working hours during the day.

In Cuba, the preschool curriculum includes practices aimed at the development of children appropriate to their age (group games, drawing, music, etc.) and basic education that prepares children for primary school. Preschool education is given great importance in the Cuban education system; for this reason, preschool education is free for children between the ages of 0-6. The daycare centers called “Circulos Infantiles”, which serve children under the age of 7, are managed by the Cuban Women’s Federation. The Cuban Women’s Federation aims to support women so that they can freely participate in working life.

What is Primary School Education Like in Cuba?

Primary school education in Cuba lasts 6 years and is given to children between the ages of 6 and 11. The primary school curriculum in Cuba includes Spanish literacy education and basic mathematics education. During primary school education in Cuba, classes are held between 06:30 and 16:00 on weekdays, and in the afternoon, elective dance, drama, and gardening classes are given to develop students' social skills. Primary school education in Cuba is compulsory and free.

What is Secondary School Education Like in Cuba?

Secondary school education in Cuba aims to provide children with social skills and basic academic education. Secondary school education in the Cuban education system lasts 3 years and covers children between the ages of 12 and 15. Secondary school education in Cuba is compulsory and free.

In Cuba, the secondary school curriculum includes the history of the Cuban revolution, health, mathematics, English language education, technological sciences and social sciences. Classes in secondary schools in Cuba are held on weekdays from 06:30 to 16:00.

What is the Cuban High School Education System Like?

In Cuba, during the first 2 years of high school education, the systems of urban high schools and rural schools differ. In urban high schools in Cuba, the curriculum requires 35 weeks of academic education and 7 weeks of rural work practice; in rural high schools, the curriculum requires 37 weeks of academic education and 5 weeks of rural work practice.

In the last two years of high school education in Cuba, which are not compulsory, the curriculum includes mathematics and language education, as well as natural sciences, history, geography and economics. The last two years of high school education in Cuba, which are not compulsory, aim to equip students for university education.

What is University Education Like in Cuba?

University education in Cuba is not compulsory and is free. There are 60 universities in Cuba, all of which are public schools. Universities in Cuba have departments in natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. University education in Cuba takes an average of 4 years, but in some specialized fields, such as medicine, it takes 5 to 6 years.

Medical education in Cuba lasts 6 years and the University of La Habana, which hosts the best medical school in Cuba, was ranked 51st in the international university ranking published in 2019. The most successful universities in Cuba include the University of Havana, Jose Antonio Echevarria University, Las Villas Marta Abreu University and Cuban Oriente Santiago University.

What is Postgraduate Education Like in Cuba?

Postgraduate education in Cuba is free for Cuban citizens, but there is a registration fee for international students. Postgraduate tuition in Cuba ranges from $5,000 to $8,000 per year. Cuban universities offer postgraduate programs in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, and last an average of 2 to 4 years.

Is Education Paid in Cuba?

Education in Cuba is free for Cuban citizens at all levels from preschool to higher education, but certain registration fees are required for foreign students. Although education is not free for foreign students in Cuba, there are additional scholarship opportunities to cover living and health expenses.

What are University Tuition Fees Like in Cuba for International Students?

University fees in Cuba for international students range from $20,000 to $40,000 for the entire duration of study. The total cost of undergraduate education in Cuba for international students is $23,500 at the University of Las Villas Marta Abreu and $28,200 at the University of Havana and the Havana Jose Antonio Echeverria University of Technology.

What is Language Education Like in Cuba?

Language education in Cuba begins with English language education in the third year of primary school. English language education in Cuba begins in primary school and continues in university education.

In Cuba, Spanish and Portuguese language courses are provided in addition to English. Language education in Cuba is provided in language schools and universities, in the form of short-term accelerated courses of a few weeks and in the form of 1-2 year education programs.

How much do language schools in Cuba cost?

Cuban language school prices are listed below.

The fee for the Spanish language education program at Sprachcaffe Havana language schools is $220 per week.
The Spanish language education program fee at Estudio Sampere language schools is $600 per week.
Coined, Havana language schools Spanish language education program fee is $245 per week.

Explore More Utilities

Cuba Guide