Philippines, Cuba Hold Meeting between Education Ministries to Explore Cooperation on Rural Farming and Technical Skills Education

Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs led by Assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga (top center) and the Philippine Department of Education led by Director Margarita Ballesteros (second row, left most) conduct a virtual meeting with Ambassador Florentino Batista Gonzales (top, second from the right) and Cuba’s Ministry of Education led by National Director for Technical and Professional Education Alexander Manso (third row, right most) to discuss possible areas of cooperation on education between the Philippines and Cuba.

MANILA 29 February 2024 – In line with the Department’s thrust to strengthen bilateral relations with countries in Central America, the Office of American Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs hosted a virtual meeting between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Cuban Ministry of Education on 23 February 2024 to strengthen cooperation on education. This is the first meeting between the ministries after DepEd’s working visit to Havana, Cuba in March 2017.

“This meeting serves two purposes: the reconnection of our education agencies after 2017 and the demonstration of our countries’ commitment to a strong PH-Cuba bilateral relationship following the signing of our agreement on Political Consultations last year,” DFA Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga said in his opening statement, underscoring the importance of sustaining bilateral engagements to advance cooperation.

DepEd shared the developments under the MATATAG curriculum which aims to focus on producing competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; accelerating delivery of basic education facilities and services; promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and providing better support to teachers. In particular, the curriculum prioritizes the following areas: livelihood education, industrial arts, information and communication technology, and family and consumer science.

In addition, DepEd presented the rural farming school program for more youth in farming communities to have access to basic education. In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the program aims to provide quality agricultural education and training in the secondary level and promote sufficient skills required in the agriculture industry.

Meanwhile, the Cuban Ministry of Education, represented by Alexander Manso, National Director for Technical and Professional Education, explained the current educational system in Cuba, highlighting the general formation of students at the primary level and the technical and professional formation at the secondary level. On rural farming schools, he stated that Cuba has experience in integrating local communities in their education system. Moreover, he shared that the Cuban government has emphasized the use of digital education, especially in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning.

“To further develop the Philippines’ education agenda, DepEd looks forward to strengthening cooperation with the Cuban Ministry of Education, especially on alternative methods of learning, rural farming schools, and promoting work readiness through technical skills education,” DepEd Director for International Cooperation Margarita Ballesteros said.

Cuban Ambassador to the Philippines Florentino Batista Gonzales expressed his enthusiasm and support for the Philippines and Cuba to work together on common programs on education. He mentioned that Cuba will host international conferences on education in 2024 and 2025, which the DepEd may attend to further discuss at length the mutual areas of interest with the Cuban side.

Also present during the virtual meeting from the Philippine side were: DepEd Director of the Bureau of Curriculum Development Samuel Soliven and DepEd Special Curricular Programs Division Chief Ma. Cecilia Nayve; Philippine Embassy in Mexico Second Secretary and Consul Ralf Roldan; Director for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Stephanie Alexis Cruz; and representatives from the DFA Office of American Affairs.

The meeting between DepEd and the Cuban Ministry of Education is one of the first to be held in preparation for the inaugural Political Consultations meeting between the Philippines and Cuba to be scheduled within this year. Signed on 13 December 2023, the Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between the Philippines and Cuba established the mechanism to officially hold bilateral consultations and  discussions on various areas such as  education, health, trade, agriculture, science and technology, maritime issues, climate change, and disaster risk reduction and management, among others. The milestone marked the 77th year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between countries in 2023. END