August 23, 2010…Havana, Cuba…Libna Stevens/iAD
The Seventh-day Adventist Church held its first ever teachers’ congress in Cuba, marking the first time such an event has been held there in over 52 years. More than 80 Seventh-day Adventist teachers attended and participated in the congress, which was held at the Adventist Theological Seminary in Havana.
“This was such a historic event, to gather Adventist teachers to network and plan the future of education on the island, after so many years due to the political situation, ” said Dr. Moises Velazquez, former education director for the church in Inter-America who helped organize the event. “We don’t know when [Adventist] schools will become a reality in Cuba, only God knows, but this teacher congress was crucial to prepare the way,” he added.
The purpose of the congress was to organize a network of Adventist teachers who teach in the public system, church leaders said. The congress was also an opportunity for various seminars on Adventist philosophy and doctrines.
“We want to know your concerns and opinions on organizing Adventist schools here,” said Dr. Luis Schulz, associate education director for the world church, as he spoke to educators.
The 80 elementary, high school and university teachers attending the congress represented a force of over 400 Adventist teachers working in public schools in Cuba, local church leaders said.
“As a university professor, I believe that this is a new propelling engine to awaken new ideas and put in place many things we can do,” said a participant. “We can all help the church from our positions,” she added.
Teachers came up with several resolutions which included organizing a teachers’ association at a national level, as well as regional chapters. In addition, a resolution was taken to prepare a strategic plan to develop Adventist education on the island to include continuing education and to coordinate with Inter-America’s Theological Seminary to organize a graduate program to benefit each teacher in their area of specialty. In addition, they committed to organizing a teacher congress at least every two years in Cuba.
Church leaders are establishing close contact with the Ministry of Education on the island through the newly-created Adventist teacher association called Asociacion de Maestros Adventistas de Cuba, or AMAC.
