CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org *** SPECIAL REPORT: FIDEL INAUGURATES NEW SCHOOL YEAR *** The sweet music of a children's choir and the flight of hundreds of doves opened the ceremony inaugurating the 1997- '98 school year in Cuba. President Fidel Castro told those gathered at Ciudad Libertad that they had reason to feel especially satisfied on such a day. "Because a great deal of hard work has gone into making the 1997-98 school year a good one and there are many encouraging things. For example, notebooks, pencils and chalk are all guaranteed. Everything that is necessary for school: work- notebooks, textbooks, uniforms... a great effort has been exerted for the uniforms and a great effort has been carried out in fixing-up the classrooms. For example, some of the larger ones were remodeled during preparations for the World Youth Festival." Fidel noted that the 14th World Festival of Youth and Students -- which ended last August 5th -- did not cost Cuba one cent. Preparations for the international event included remodeling many Cuban schools, which are now ready for the new school year. The Cuban leader stressed that the Festival also unleashed a great ideological battle. "The Festival was a great people's victory! It also left behind significant works -- the Lenin School, a great and important school, was practically made anew, as was the Jose Antonio Echeverria Technical Institute. Those who had the opportunity to hear many of the talks and expositions of the event or the testimonies offered in the Anti-Imperialist Tribunal were able to appreciate the level of consciousness that is forming in the world around today's situation -- a situation in which some have wanted to deceive humanity. Students from all over the world took part... something that should be emphasized here." In another part of his speech at the ceremony opening the new school year, the Cuban leader pointed out that 55,000 more students are enrolled in secondary schools this year -- a fact that brings with it new challenges for the country's educational system. "And it is thanks to the many schools and classrooms built during the years of the Revolution that we have been able to offer a proper response to this demand for more space, for more classrooms. We have also been able to meet the demand for professors and teachers." Fidel also noted that despite the difficult economic conditions of the Special Period, not a single Cuban child has been left without a school and that education, as always, is free of charge. The Cuban president said that this a marked contrast with that of other Third World countries, including developed nations. "And what is more, no country -- without exception -- has a higher per capita rate of teachers to students than Cuba. This is very different from the situation that we see in other Latin American countries and many countries of the world -- where police are in the streets, armed with clubs and shields, beating striking teachers, students and workers. And this isn't only the situation in Latin America, but also in developed capitalist countries, including Europe." Fidel Castro also spoke about a very different situation in the world -- totally unknown to Cuban school children... a world in which children live in the streets and are the victims of prostitution and deceit. The Cuban president stressed that laws protecting children have been strengthened, new teachers are being trained and vocational/pedagogical schools are being created. At the same time, the country continues working to instill values in its children and young people. "Today, it is more important than ever to have high-quality teaching personnel. As you all know very well, we have been left struggling alone in this hemisphere and in a great part of the world, struggling by ourselves against imperialism, resisting an ever more vicious and inhuman blockade in order to save our independence, to save our nation, our Revolution. And you also know that during these times, various factors and circumstances have forced us to make certain reforms... openings... and other activities that didn't exist before in Cuba. These things create injustice... and even inequalities. They do not contribute to a Socialist and Communist consciousness. And that negative influence can have an effect on children, on young people and on the population in general. That is why the teacher's work is becoming that much more important and the value of education is so much more significant in the struggle to instill the values of the Revolution and Socialism in the younger generations." Cuban President Fidel Castro said that during these difficult circumstances, teachers play a decisive role. Without education and the work of the Revolution throughout these years, Socialism would not have survived in Cuba. "Without education, no Revolution would be possible. Without education, Socialism would not be possible. And this year has provided many examples... in the midst of a blockade with all its difficulties, the scarcity of resources... there are positive and encouraging signs. What other country in the world would have achieved what we have in the midst of more than 35 years of that brutal blockade? They are hoping that when the generation that began the Revolution disappears, everything will change. They think that one day, these ideas and values will disappear, just as they did unfortunately, sadly, terribly... in other countries. No matter who dies -- and every so often they kill some of us... but we don't even bother to respond! That would create problems... because one day we will die. And when that happens, how will we convince people that it is true? That is what life has taught us, that is what history has taught us... and those who have built this Revolution will defend it until our very last breath. We will defend our ideas until the last minute. We will defend our just cause, our Socialism, our country. And that is why we say, with so much conviction: Homeland or Death! Socialism or Death! Venceremos!" [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. 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