CUBAN PUBLIC POLICIES ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND REALITY

Resumen

THE REPORT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST BOYS AND GIRLS (UNICEF, 2006) REAFFIRMED THAT CHILD VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL IS A LONG-STANDING ISSUE AND A SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEM. CUBA HAS NOT BEEN SPARED THIS PHENOMENON. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT DESPITE EXISTING RIGHTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK SOME CHILDREN AND YOUTH CANNOT MATERIALIZE THEIR LIFE PROJECTS AND ARE EXCLUDED FROM EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THIS
CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THE REALITY MUST THEREFORE BE SOLVED SINCE THEY ARE CUBAN CITIZENS, HENCE, FULLY FLEDGED SUBJECTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO EVIDENCE THE NEED TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC POLICIES CONCERNING SCHOOL VIOLENCE SINCE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THIS TOPIC IN CUBA IS SCARCE. AS A RESULT, A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES WAS CARRIED OUT BASED ON THE EXISTING LEGAL
AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE, AIMED AT PREVENTING THIS PHENOMENON AND/OR PROMOTING AN EDUCATION FOR PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE STATE AND ITS SOCIAL REPRESENTATIVE, THE CUBAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, WORK TO PREVENT SCHOOL VIOLENCE, BUT THERE IS A QUESTION THAT REMAINS UNANSWERED: CAN THE EXISTING EDUCATIONAL
POLICIES ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE GUARANTEE THE PREVENTION OF THIS PHENOMENON?

KEY WORDS: PUBLIC POLICIES, SCHOOL VIOLENCE