They propose constitutional reform in Cuba to guarantee academic freedom

A group of independent organizations in Cuba has made public a proposal to modify articles 32 and 73 of the Constitution, which establish the guidelines of the educational system on the island.

The Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC), the Women clearly defined.

«Free investigation requires academic freedom and that is not explicitly recognized by the Constitution,» said Martí News Manuel Cuesta Morúa, vice president of the CTDC and one of the editors of the initiative.

“That is a principle that is worth promoting, especially to put it in tune with the development of technology, science, speed and the ability of autonomous organizations to generate initiatives, inventiveness and knowledge, which is not achieved Under a state monopoly, ”he said.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Science and Culture Organization) has indicated limitations regarding academic freedom in Cuba:

“The politicization of school programs and curricula erodes institutional autonomy and academic freedom. This type of regulation on what is presented in the classroom is a trend observed in many countries. ”

“In the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, both public and private universities face government restrictions regarding the creation of new academic programs. These interventions usually include the requirement to promote ideological visions as part of educational programs, something that is also observed, for example, in Belarus, China and Cuba. ”

The other reform suggested by independent organizations refers to article 73, which stipulates that free education is a right of all Cubans and a state responsibility.

In this sense, the proposal claims that “the State, the law, recognizes the possibility, first, that education under the monopoly of the State is not always sense that it does not participate to parents, students to formulate and design education, as in other countries, ”said Morúa.

«The second is that public education can live with private education to ensure that a society can stimulate and participate in the public education process,» he said.

The draft, which tries to collect citizens support, ensures that the implementation of these proposals would be aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The president of the CTDC, the opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, believes that the modification proposal would attract the contest of a majority of Cubans.

“Many would like to see a more inclusive, diverse, free education, where private and public schools can coexist. Cuban parents, more than six decades ago, have no right to choose the type of education we want for our children, ”he said.

“When working through this type of proposals, two things are being demonstrated: there is a growing number of Cubans who want It suits the regime, ”said Ferrer.

He added that these methods of non -violent struggle are complemented «and can make the democratizing process that our homeland needs so much.»

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba considers the calls to non -violent demonstrations in the streets as these types of projects equally valid, because «they mobilize many people who are not willing to claim their rights on the street, but they do believe that they can join to a bill that demands these changes in the arbitrary constitution in force. «

Martí News asked the independent lawyer René Gómez Manzano about the possibility of carrying out this project and that the National Assembly, after the collection of signatures they require, subjects it to consideration.

“None feasibility. There will not be as long as there are no substantial changes in this country. In the year 60, I think it was, the entire instruction was subject to the State and, simply, that does not proceed, ”he lamented.

“As for the effect that I may have on citizens, it seems to me that, in this calamitous state in which this country is, the education of the boys I do not think it is what worries people the most. I hope you are wrong and that this is a slogan of wide popular mobilization and that obtains the majority support of the citizens. I mean, the express support, because the support I am sure it has it. The bulk of citizenship agrees with that, ”said the president of the agramontic current opposition.