[:es]Education, One of Cuba’s Greatest Achievements[:]

Despite the limitations imposed by the United States for decades through an economic, financial and commercial blockade, Cuba has fulfilled most of the goals established in Item 2 of the Millennium Development Goals regarding education. According to reports from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Cuba is the Latin American country with the highest rate of educational development and the only one that has met the global objectives of Education for All.

Cuba also devotes about 13 percent of its Gross Domestic Product to education. This year, the funds planned for Education amounted to 8.2 billion Cuban pesos (more than 331 million dollars), equivalent to 23 percent of budgetary expenditures.

Within the economic aspect, investments are aimed at training teachers and working on elementary and junior high schools, universities and children’s daycare centers.

Education in Cuba is established in the Constitution as an inalienable right for all citizens and it is a priority for the State.

Academic education, crime prevention programs and questionable behavior patterns, responsible sex education, the teaching of values and gender mainstreaming occupy a high place in the teaching programs.

At present, special education covers the entire national system in regular schools and at different educational levels, and the country is working to promote the comprehensive development of persons with specific needs.(Prensa Latina)