Members of the Consulate General of Cuba in Toronto participated as speakers in a virtual conference with students from York University on the Cuban education system.
The event, organized by the renowned intellectual and geography professor Ranu Bazu, was also attended by Professor Philip Kelly, Associate Dean of Research, Graduate and External Relations of the Faculty of Environment and Urban Change, and Elizabeth Hill, founding member of the Canadian Cuba Friendship Association (CCFA) in Toronto.
The meeting included a rich exchange on the background, current situation, achievements and international role of the Cuban education system. The solidarity of the Cuban government and people in this area was highlighted, and key examples were discussed in depth, such as the implementation of the “Yo sí puedo” literacy method, the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) and the scholarships granted to citizens of developing countries to study a large number of courses at different universities in the country, which allow them to return to their countries and contribute to this preparation.
The Cuban side was represented by Consul Tania Valenzuela Veiga and Consul General Jorge Yanier Castellanos Orta. The latter also addressed the negative impact of the U.S. government blockade in the sphere of education, in its integral conception, and in the entire Cuban society, especially on the most vulnerable within the family, such as children and the elderly. The Cuban diplomat ratified that, in spite of all the shortages caused by that cruel policy, Cuba will continue to share what it has with those who need it most.