The Literacy Campaign

I found this, Classrooms around the World by Julian Germain on the Guardian website, a selection of photos that provide a fascinating insight into children, their classrooms and their education systems. Each photo has interesting commentary about the way it was shot, her thoughts on the children and the way they were or about the nature of their reality. I was particularly drawn to Cuba, a country home to Che, cigars and a youth literacy rate of 100%. I was intrigued to find out more.

The Cuban Literacy Campaign

not own image

1960, Castro vowed to eradicate illiteracy in just one year in post-revolution Cuba. He sent out posters, adverts, newspapers, anyone who could read and write was encouraged to become a literacy teacher or alfabetizador. 1961, more than 100,000 people volunteered - half of whom were women, they were enrolled on a rigorous two week training course where they learnt how to teach and how to withstand the harsh conditions of the villages. Literacy Brigades were then sent to the breadth and width of rural Cuba. Never before has a country mass mobilised unqualified teachers in such a way. People were engaged, excited to be a part of the social and political movement. The thirst for knowledge was ubiquitous, thousands of volunteers marched, carrying giant pencils, to the Plaza de la Revolucion on 22nd December 1961, all singing "Fidel, Fidel tell us what else we can do!" 

By 1962, the literacy rate was 98%. Classrooms were built, teacher training reformed, pre-school and primary education was available to all by 1970 (45 years ahead of the UN's 2015 deadline for its Millennium Development Goal). 

Maestra - a documentary by Catherine Murphy, exploring the Cuban Literacy Campaign through testimonies of young alfabetizadors. See the trailer below.

Now, education is free at all levels, irrespective of age, income, class. Mobile teachers are employed to teach children that can't attend school through either illness or disability. Cuba spends around 10% of their national central budget on education compared to UK's 4%. I remember reading that the Cuban government listed 20 books they believe every household should have. They are looking to give it out for free with their national newspapers. Despite a winning education system, there are concerns that Cuba doesn't prepare for life beyond the classroom, lack of opportunities coupled with poor wages has lead teachers to look for work with tourists. Cuba continues to change and update their education system, and what it achieved in 1961 was remarkable. Viva la Education.