Published on 30 October 2014 by Granma Internacional
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.