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The Vice Minister of Preschool, Basic and Secondary Education, Gloria Carrasco Ramírez, together with the Director of Quality, Solman Díaz, and the Deputy Director of Permanence, Andrea Marcela Cely, led the Colombian Government delegation to the sister Republic of Cuba in order to learn firsthand about the strategies and programs that this Caribbean nation is implementing to guarantee the right to education for children, adolescents, young people, and adults.
This visit, which took place between March 19 and 21, was led by Cira Piñeiro, First Deputy Minister of Education of Cuba, and the Deputy Minister of Preschool, Basic and Secondary Education of the Colombian Ministry of Education. The agenda focused on learning about Cuba's experience in early childhood care, inclusive education programs, literacy, comprehensive education with sports, physical recreation and culture, and formative assessment within the official curriculum.
During the meeting, a dialogue was established on common ground between the two nations, with the aim of sharing experiences and sharing strategies that have allowed for the consolidation of educational programs that seek to strengthen the sector and provide more and better training opportunities for students at all levels.
Regarding early childhood, the "Casitas Infantiles" and "Educa a tu Hijo - PETH" programs were presented, highlighting their results and their importance for the overall development of young children.
Regarding youth and adult education, the "Yes, I Can" literacy program was explained, which has also been implemented in prisons. Additionally, information was provided on the program's characteristics and the educational resources it supports. It is important to note that the content and resources are adapted to each region's unique context and sociolinguistic aspects. Regarding this topic, Deputy Minister Carrasco highlighted its positive impact on society and expressed her desire to develop similar strategies in our country.
Additionally, during the three-day agenda, the Colombian delegation had the opportunity to visit various educational institutions on the island, with the aim of learning about the on-site implementation of each of the strategies presented and demonstrating the results that have contributed to strengthening the Cuban education system.
At the end of the visit, the teams from the Colombian and Cuban Ministries of Education established commitments aimed at seeking opportunities to implement the "Yes, I Can" program in our country, providing support in formative assessment processes, and conducting short courses and internships for teacher and administrator training.