Educational Program to Cuba

ACEI is pleased to announce the offering of a professional research and exchange program to Cuba.

The program is tentatively scheduled for spring 2012, and is being offered in coordination with Professionals Abroad, a initiative of Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.

See schools, visit with Cuban teachers and university faculty, and learn how the right to education, recognition of children, and obligations for children’s care are addressed in Cuba. Cuba’s education system is an interesting and important model from which to learn. Nearly all Cubans over 15 years old are literate (99.8%), and the rate reaches 100 percent for those in the 15 to 24 age range. Primary school net enrollment between 2005 and 2009 averaged 99 percent. Achievement gaps attributed to areas such as gender and race, or rural and urban location, are low. Cuba appears to be able to attend to both equity and quality in education.

In addition, Cuba has been praised by UNICEF as a model for child protection and the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The right to education, recognition of children, and obligations for children’s care are written into the constitution and, therefore, upheld by Cuban government entities. Progress on important health indicators, such as low child mortality and elimination of severe malnutrition, are a reflection of their child-centered policies.

During the exchange, participants who would like to make a short presentation on an education topic of their choice will be given an opportunity to do so. A breadth of topics on policy, practice, and research are sought

Download Call for Papers.

Click here for a letter of invitation

Register here now

(Program Cost: Current approximate cost for the program is $3,990 per participant. This includes all educational visits, hotel, most meals, charges for special visits and excursions, most service charges, taxes and basic gratuities, and some sightseeing with expert guides. It also includes all on-site tour transportation and transportation to and from Cuba through Miami. Participants must pay their way to Miami, where the group will be briefed and depart.)

Academic Travel Abroad (ATA) is a premiere travel company specializing in unique educational experiences. ATA has provided special programming for such well-known institutions as National Geographic, the Brookings Institute, and Yale University.

The Professionals Abroad initiative of ATA works with many established associations and organizations to offer professionally designed educational programs. This promises to be a exciting event where education professionals will be able to interact with Cuban educators and university faculty to learn about the education of children in Cuba, and have time to experience Cuba, as well.