Havana, July 8 (RHC)-- Cuban Minister of Education Ena Elsa Velázquez has announced that intensive efforts are underway to ensure the availability of the necessary material resources for the new school year, despite the country's current economic limitations.   She added that priority is being given to the procurement of items such as notebooks, pencils, watercolors, modeling clay, teachers' modules and paper for teachers and students.

When referring to infrastructure repair, the minister said that a program is underway to refurbish 1,500 schools out of the some 10,000 that exist on the island.

The head of the Education Ministry said that the 78 educational institutions affected by the tornado that swept several neighborhoods in Havana last January have already been repaired.