Cuba changing university teaching methods to improve quality

Cuba changing university teaching methods to improve quality
Published September 08, 2015 EFE

Cuba's Higher Education Ministry announced Tuesday a series of changes
in its system of university education, aimed at improving "quality,
performance and relevance" to give young people a better chance in the
labor market after graduation, the island's official media reported.

The creation of a new teaching system, including shorter courses and
making English language studies a requisite for obtaining a university
degree, will be among the principal changes proposed to begin with the
2016-2017 school year, the state dailies Granma and Juventud Rebelde said.

Higher Education Minister Rodolfo Alarcon said "this new system, to be
submitted for government approval," will guarantee that teaching
provides a wide educational background, followed later by
specialization, and finally by the individual self-improvement of every
professional "according to the position he or she occupies," a standard
that up to now has applied only to medical sciences.

A future category of "Non-University Higher Education" is also awaiting
approval, as a way to "deal with the insufficient use made of qualified
members of the workforce."

The Cuban minister also said courses will be cut from five years to four
in the "immense majority" of specialties starting with the next school
year, though it will be a "gradual process, with the introduction of new
programs, studies and strictness."

He said that learning English will be an "indispensable" requisite" for
obtaining a university degree, but noted that the measure won't become
generalized for a few years, "because the conditions must be created for
its application."

Another of the transformations to be applied in the next school year
will be the possibility to take, without an entrance exam, "Courses by
Meetings," which will not require continuous attendance at classes, as
well as "Education at a Distance."

Universal free education is one of the banner achievements of the Cuban
Revolution, though for several years the shortage of teachers and the
low quality of classes have been causes for concern on the island. EFE

Source: Cuba changing university teaching methods to improve quality |
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