The Cuban regime has announced that pre-university students wishing to pursue a career in Medical Sciences would not even have to take entrance exams, further easing the requirements for access to higher education.
A post from the University of Medical Sciences of Holguín indicated that by simply completing the tenth grade with an average of 90, and achieving the same score in the first semester of eleventh grade, they will be able to take the last year of high school at the University of Medical Sciences and enter the program directly.
According to that entity of the regime, the proposal is "in line with decisions made by the Ministry of Public Health to create university colleges in the Medical Sciences Universities."
In this way, students will be exempt from taking the entrance exams for higher education: the degree will be awarded directly.
In addition to being in the eleventh grade, students are required to be "fit" both physically and mentally. Furthermore, those who choose to pursue a Nursing career must not be allergic to penicillin.
By sharing the announcement on his social media, journalist Yosmany Mayeta highlighted this measure, which aimed to create "emergency doctors for a country without medicine."
Hundreds of internet users, in agreement with this opinion, criticized the authorities for adopting such lenient measures for a career and profession that require a high level of rigor.
"How many of us let our lashes flutter as we faced an entrance exam that many of us did not pass due to its rigor, and now they are giving it away, what madness, but the problem is not that, it’s to whom we now entrust our lives, what knowledge will they have, there will be more horrors," wrote a Cuban.
Last year, the program was already implemented in Havana. The University College takes place in the faculties of Julio Trigo and Enrique Cabrera for twelfth-grade students who aspire to study medicine at these institutions.
For the past two years, Cuba's Ministry of Higher Education has maintained a schedule for offering university programs, which includes those who have suspended their studies and even those who did not show up for the entrance exams.
In 2023, when this method of access to Higher Education was announced, the Cuban Minister of Education, Walter Baluja García, stated that "we do not believe that this opening means a loss of the quality of the graduate.”
However, criticism persists despite the regime continuing to promote a method full of gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions about Admission to the Medical Career in Cuba
How will Cuban students be able to access the Medical program without entrance exams?
Cuban students who wish to study Medicine will not have to take entrance exams. They can gain direct access if they finish the tenth grade with an average of 90 and achieve the same score in the first semester of eleventh grade. Additionally, they must be physically and mentally fit, and not have an allergy to penicillin if they choose Nursing.
Why has the new entrance method to Medicine in Cuba generated criticism?
The new admission method for Medicine has been criticized for being considered too lenient for a career that demands high rigor and preparation. Critics argue that it could compromise the quality of medical education and, consequently, the quality of the healthcare system in the country.
How does the situation of the health system in Cuba influence the context of this measure?
The measure comes in the context of a severe crisis in the Cuban healthcare system, where there is a shortage of medications and basic medical supplies. These issues have driven many healthcare professionals to abandon their careers due to the lack of resources and precarious working conditions.
What other measures has the Cuban government taken regarding higher education?
The Cuban government has implemented a schedule that allows access to higher education even for those students who do not pass or do not show up for entrance exams. This measure reflects a broader trend towards the relaxation of academic requirements, although it has faced criticism for its potential impact on educational quality.
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