Before the revolution in Cuba occurred, education was unavailable to over half of the Cuban children. Literacy rate was at best 60%. In 1960, the revolutionary government began a war on literacy. Since the revolution, Cuba has maintained high standards of educational development. Education is a very important issue in Cuba and the infrastructure is also very strong.
Primary education gets great priority in the country. There are several schools in Cuba. School attendance is compulsory from ages 6 to 15 or 16 (end of basic secondary education). All students are required to wear there school uniforms with the color denoting grade level. Primary education lasts for 6 years. On the other hand there are 2 separate sections in the secondary education. These are the basic secondary education and the pre-university secondary education. The curriculum in primary and secondary schools is based upon principles of “hard work, self-discipline and love of country”. After the students accomplished the secondary education, they have the option to choose from pre-university education and technical and professional education. Bachillerato are awarded to those students that finished the courses of pre-secondary education.
Higher education in Cuba means the University education. Higher polytechnic institutes, higher pedagogical institutes, higher educational centers and many more are other institutes for higher education in Cuba besides universities. The Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for higher education. They are the one that takes care of undergraduate and postgraduate education. All in all, Cuba has 47 universities and approximately 112,000 students can enroll in these universities.