Cuba Extends Access to Universities
The Cuban initiative to bring university education to every locality in the country has created more than 3,000 local teaching headquarters benefiting 15,000 students during the 2005-2006 academic year.

Higher Education Minister Juan Vela praised the encouraging reach of the Cuban program, committed to extend higher education to everyone who desires it.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the school year, held at the Carlos Rafael Rodriguez University in central Cienfuegos Province, the minister highlighted the research award received by the nation´s universities from the Cuban Sciences Academy.

Vela noted the contributions of university students to the social changes carried out by the Cuban government, including the energy programs, the socioeconomic projects, and the recovery of the youth dissociated from work and study.

More than a half million students attended Cuban universities this year; the highest figure in the history of the country and superior to the 380,000 registered last year.