Education
Before the revolution a high percentage of the people were illiterate so the first priority after the revolution was to open schools. Castro’s Motto was, “ A healthy mind and a healthy Body’. There are 3million involved in the National system of Education. There are special centres for art, drama, music, sports, language and technology. 1950 there were 40 children per class now there are 10 children per class. Because there is so much invested in education professionals cannot leave their profession for five years. The system is lacking cash and is now under strain as many want to leave.
State Control
The State controls 90%of the economy, restaurants, organic farms, sugar cane, tobacco and banana plantations, the tourist trade, hotels, buses, media and TV obliging almost every
one to work for it. It pays an average monthly wage of 12 euro. All professionals are poorly paid and many are now seeking jobs in tourism where they are guaranteed tips. University lecturers have turned tour guides. Everyone has to have some type of side line selling knick–knacks, wooden to
ys, toys made from recycled beer and coke cans, hand made table cloths, wood carved statues, pottery, paintings, jewelry. It is a population of hustlers
and mini capitalists that make a mockery of communism. It is the only way that the charming Cuban population can survive. I don’t understand why they can’t raise the living standards of the people having inherited a r
ich and fertile island. The government blames the long-standing US embargo but our group debating the issue thought that the stifling bureaucracy and lack of economic freedom have proved disastrous. Summer hurricanes have also contributed to the devastation of crops and the infrastructure and that caused further economic problems as well as a dive in nickel prices.