Havana, August 29 (RHC) -- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Tuesday checked the preparations for the start, on September 4, of the 2023-2024 school year, the first after the COVID-19 pandemic, which will be 46 weeks.

At the meeting, the President insisted on the need to provide differentiated attention to education sector workers who work in complex conditions.

He also indicated that a proposal should be drawn up to include periodic medical check-ups and consultations, in addition to the offer by local governments of affordable commercial options.

This working meeting took place after the tour of directors and officials of the Ministry of Education (Mined) throughout the country to evaluate the conditions and guarantees for the beginning of the next school term.

At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Education, Naima Trujillo declared to the press that the tour allowed the verification of the main concerns, many of them related to teacher coverage, the assurance of the study material base and the attention to teachers.

According to the official, these contacts served to promote, to join wills and to see details of each context that allow making decisions and seeking alternatives for the success of the school year.

Trujillo affirmed that the main challenges are associated with the permanent evaluation of the coverage of the teaching staff so that the decisions taken are sustainable and that all classrooms have the necessary attention.

He highlighted the particularity of the current school calendar, which will include two calls for Higher Education entrance exams, in October and May.

"Around 1,700,000 children, adolescents and young Cubans will go to the classroom in September in conditions of equity and justice, which is the great celebration of the Cuban family," said the Minister of Education.