Cuban Edcuation Minister, Ena Elsa Velazquez, addresses the plenary session of the Education World Forum.

London, May 25 (RHC) -- Cuba presented its experiences and achievements in the education sector at the Education World Forum underway in London and called on participants to join efforts to face current cultural, technological, and political changes.

Cuban education is undergoing a process of critical reflection on its scope and achievements, said Minister Ena Elsa Velázquez, speaking Tuesday at the plenary session.

The official admitted that the results of the last ten years do not always correspond to the efforts made due to the scarcity of resources caused by the unilateral blockade imposed by the United States on the Caribbean island for more than six decades.

She pointed out that despite the difficulties, the Cuban government devotes 25 percent of state budget expenditures to education and that all children, adolescents, and young people have access to it free of charge and equitably.

It is a priority for the State and is endorsed in the Constitution of the Republic, remarked Velázquez.

She pointed out that improving the quality of learning in her country favors greater participation and social control by student and youth organizations, families, and the community.

She also mentioned her country's experience in confronting the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the closing of schools and the transfer of an important part of school learning to the student's independent work and the teacher's role, shared with the family.

Velázquez also highlighted that Cuba was able to restart the school year in October 2021, thanks to the fact that its scientists produced the necessary vaccines to immunize the entire population, especially children over two years old.

The Cuban Education Minister noted that the present time is one of significant cultural, technological, and political changes, which require putting human beings in tune with their time to understand and transform it.

“ Let us look to the future and integrate our efforts," she concluded.