Cuba’s Federation of University Students: The president’s view
A correspondent’s draft
Economy and professional frustration
By Manuel Alberto Ramy
April 30/ 2012
Reasons for professional emigration
Cuba’s FEU president interviewed for RPA
The number of university graduates among fellow Cubans is impressive. According to the National Office of Statistics (ONI), in 2010 Cuba’s work force was 6,829,100 strong. Of those, 5,112,500, people were active – 74.9% of the work force.
Among active workers, 805,900 had a university degree, which encompasses 15.7% of the work force, an enviable figure for any country from our region. Add to that high school graduates (including mid-level technicians in different fields), the number rises to 2,733,200, and readers get a notion of the investment made for educating the productive forces.
A contradiction
Obviously Cuba has given its people a technical and professional education worthy of developed countries, but the reality of where that highly educated work force is inserted is far from it. This contradiction weighs heavily in all fields in our society and is expressed in several ways and with different attitudes. From the news media, to the fair remuneration of their efforts, to the dynamic of the communicating vessels that link scientific and technological development with its practical realization in production, the result leaves them frustrated: state-of-the-art training, inefficient production structures and a third world economic and social reality. The situation has a bearing on young university students and on the controversial subject of emigration among professionals.
The FEU president’s views
The economy and professional frustration are two of the factors that make young Cuban professionals leave the country, says Carlos Rangel Irola (in the photo), president of Cuba’s Federation of University Students (FEU) as he explained the emigration of this very important sector of the country’s society.
“First, the economic need… because salaries are so low for what these citizens give in return to society”, Rangel said – a reason also present in general emigration, as well as the blockade imposed by Washington.
According the Rangel, salaries paid do not correspond with the satisfaction of needs creating an obstacle for planning of a “future as a couple, family, and home.” All points that threaten the continuation on the job of many of these professionals and a continued qualified work force.
“Professional frustration” is another cause for emigration. “Many professionals see that their scientific or research projects” do not advance “in the country,” so in order to put them into practice they decide to leave. Yet, Rangel adds, not all professionals, scientists and technicians make that decision. Due to “conviction” or “commitment” with Cuban society, there are others who opt to stay and insist on their aspirations as professionals in the different fields.
Although Rangel believes that emigration is “an easy way out, I won’t judge those who emigrate, because each person is a world apart. But there are many who have decided to fight for their projects here in Cuba.”
The exclusive audio interview for Radio Progreso Alternativa (RPA) and Progreso Weekly/Semanal was conducted by Harold Cárdenas, of La Joven Cuba blog. Readers may listen to the full discussion in Spanish.
Progreso Semanal/Weekly authorizes the reproduction of all or part of the articles by our journalists as long as the source and author are identified.
