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‘Yes, I can’ Cuban literacy program
benefits more than eight million
AMAYA SABORIT ALFONSO
Given the possibility of adapting its methodology to
the culture and needs of a country in which it is
being applied, the ‘Yo, sí puedo’ (Yes, I can)
program has been implemented in 30 countries, and
taught more than 203,324 people across the globe to
read, stated César Torres Batista, Sciences Phd. and
director of the Latin American and Caribbean
Pedagogical Institute (IPLAC).
Promoting the professional development and
postgraduate training of Latin American and
Caribbean educators; contributing to reducing
illiteracy and offering lifelong learning to young
people and adults; as well as facilitating exchanges
between educators of the region in order to advance
the development and consolidation of a Latin
American pedagogical format based on the region’s
shared realities, are all among program’s goals,
which today, more clearly than ever, are being
achieved.
Torres Batista commented that since the launch of
the program in Venezuela on July 1, 2003,
satisfactory results have been achieved.
“In the course of one year Venezuela has declared
itself an illiteracy-free nation with more than 1
million Venezuelans learning to read through this
method. In addition the program is now available in
Spanish, Portuguese, English, Quechua, Aymara,
Creole, Tetún, Zuahili and Guaraní, depending on
where it is implemented,” he stated.
Regarding the continuing studies program ‘Yo, sí
puedo seguir’ (Yes, I can continue), the director
stated that it is offered in Venezuela, Bolivia,
Nicaragua and Colombia, with currently more than 1
million students enrolled.
Similarly, he noted that in regards to postgraduate
training for Cubans and international students,
IPLAC currently offers diplomas, courses, masters
degrees and doctorates in various countries, in
order to improve Latin American and Caribbean
teaching.
“More than 50,000 students from 27 countries have
graduated from Cuba’s higher education programs:
3,500 masters students from 12 countries
(principally Venezuela and Peru); more than 300
doctorate graduates from seven countries; and more
than 46,000 from courses and other academic
courses,” he stated.
José Ricardo del Real, head of the Young People,
Adults and Literacy Department, and Liset Valdés
Abreu, deputy of IPLAC, discussed the institution’s
future tasks and how to manage and developed the
training process education sector workers.
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