Santiago de Cuba, Aug 19 (RHC) -- Cuban educational centers get ready for the start of the new school year on September 3. The level of preparedness was being checked this week by Education Minister Ena Elsa Velasquez during an inspection tour of several provinces.

The minister described as positive the state of classrooms and educational facilities in general and said that school supplies, textbooks and the level of teacher staffing were satisfactory.

The Cuban education minister took the opportunity to encourage teachers to actively participate in the discussion of issues, especially education-related matters, coming under public debate as Cubans across the island take a look at a proposed new national constitution. The opinions of the thousands of teachers in Cuba will be of great value, she said.