“Using data compiled by the University of Oxford, from 1900 (roughly the time of Cuba’s independence) to 1960 (roughly the start of the Castro socialist dictatorship) Cuba’s literacy rate went from 46% to 79%, an increase of 72%. So, before Castro, 4 out of 5 Cubans were literate.
“But let’s compare Cuba to other countries in 1960. Cuba was 5th in Latin America literacy, with the aforementioned 79%. Costa Rica was 4th with 83% and Panama was 6th at 73%.
“Now, let’s fast forward 20 years. Cuba, if you believe the statistics, made impressive gains, going from 79% literacy to 93%, but Costa Rica went from 83% to 92% and Panama went from 73% to 88%. Neither Costa Rica nor Panama had the “benefit” of a socialist dictator, firing squads, etc. So, what explains their rise in literacy? Well, there was a general rise in literacy in the region and the world.
“And speaking of the world, remember that 79% literacy rate in Cuba, pre-Castro? Well that was almost double the global average which sat at just above 40% in 1960.
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