Panama, July 29 (RHC) -- Panamanian Minister of Social Development Alcibiades Vasquez has recognized the advantages of the Cuban literacy method "Yo sí puedo" (Yes I Can), implemented in the country to learn how to read and write.

"This method, which includes seven weeks of continuous lessons and 65 video conferences, allows people to meet those goals easily," the minister said.

He also said that Panama has a Cuban educational brigade made up of seven methodological advisors, across the provinces of Chiriqui, Veraguas, Panama and Comarca Ngobe Bugle, regions with the highest amount of illiterate people in the country.

Vasquez told the TVN television channel that so far more than 68,000 people have learned how to read and write nationwide as part of the program "Muévete por Panama" (Move for Panama), implemented by the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES).

According to MIDES, there are 153 classrooms in rural areas with difficult access, with the support from thousands of volunteers who use their free time to teach illiterate people to read and write in their own communities.