Havana, Cuba.- About two million Cuban children, adolescents and youth are beginning today the 2018 -2019 school year in Cuba, in an educational system that includes more than 10,000 schools and 22 universities.

Authorities of the sector worked for the last two months on the preparation of the new course, which is part of the national education system improvement.

According to Education Minister Ena Elsa Velazquez, the second stage of the third improvement is underway, it includes the practice in the validation of plans and programs of study, as well as ways to work.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel and the education minister checked the activities to guarantee the beginning of the new course, which has among its challenges a deficit of qualified teachers at primary and secondary levels.

Regarding to the new teaching stage, Higher Education Minister Jose Ramon Saborido mentioned a short cycle program, aimed at young graduates from pre-university schools, who will finish their studies as higher-level technicians.

Saborido stressed that about 250,000 students enrolled for Cuban universities.

Another particularity of the 2018-2019 academic course will be the participation of professors and students in the popular consultation on the new Draft Constitution, scheduled from August 13 to November 15.