Paris, May 17, 2021. Today the Minister of Education of Cuba, Ena Elsa Velázquez participated in the Ministerial Roundtable on the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development that took place within the framework of the World Conference of UNESCO on Education for Sustainable Development.
During her intervention, the Minister of Education stressed that education in Cuba is founded on the collectivist spirit, on solidarity, on cultivating spirituality, developing culture and sensitivity, without neglecting the material needs of the human being; despite the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States, which constitutes the main obstacle to Sustainable Development.
Likewise, she shared that the National Plan for Economic and Social Development until 2030, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, gives a leading role to education, innovation and scientific research, which have been key factors in the process of comprehensive human development. .
The representative of Cuba expressed that with the objective of contributing to the formation of the generations that the moments demand, the Cuban education system works to: promote comprehensive educational policies that ensure sustainable development, mitigation, adaptation and resilience. .
In this sense, she highlighted the Life Task, a plan of the Cuban State to Confront climate change, which allows linking the school contents and the activities carried out in educational institutions, as part of the current work on the Improvement of the National Education System .
She also made reference to actions to move towards a more resilient, flexible, inclusive, quality conception and with a gender perspective of education systems, from early childhood and throughout life, with special emphasis on attention to most vulnerable; as well as to reduce the digital gap in education, promote digital citizenship and develop quality educational resources.
Velázquez reaffirmed the island's commitment to the 2030 Agenda and to forging inter and multisectoral alliances to guarantee the response in the educational field to the Covid-19 pandemic, “we recognize that this global crisis can only be faced through international solidarity, multilateral cooperation and the unity of educators, creators of the values, feelings and commitment of their students ”, she emphasized.
The UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) will take place virtually from 17 to 19 May. As a result of this high-level meeting, the Berlin Declaration will be adopted by which the Member States of the Organization commit to promote the contents of ESD and to include them as an essential element of educational systems.
During the opening of the Conference, Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, underlined the importance of ESD in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, instilling new values in learners and enhancing knowledge about biodiversity, the oceans, the preservation and management of natural resources and the effects of climate change.
(Cubaminrex- Permanent Mission of Cuba to UNESCO)