EDUCATION

   Although many would blame the revolution in Cuba for many of the problems, with it came an increased concentration on education and the result has been extraordinary.  Cuba maintains the highest rate of literacy in Latin America.  Before the Cuban Revolution, education was unavailable to over half of cuban children.  In 1960, the revolutionary government began a war on iliteracy.   Where nearly a quarter of the population hadn't been able to read before, the campaign ended with a 97% literacy rate.

   Nowadays compulsory education through the ninth grade exsists in Cuba.  From there, students con choose what they want do do next.  Cuban students have always been enthuiastic about their education.  The effects of the Special period and tourism are having a negative effect on this.  Some sudents choose to go to a pre-collegiate school, technical school or none at all.  If they graduate from the college prepatory school, they can attend college for free if they choose.  Around 7% of the population has graduated from college and 4% have degrees.   In addition, there are 1.3 million graduates of technical schools in Cuba. Like inother countries, students compete for the best educational opportunities.  Testing is done to spot talented students.  In many rural areas, students attend boarding schools.  At these schools, students work and are required to perform agricultrual or some other form of manual labor in addition to their studies.