THE CUBA REVIEW 



19 



Main Entrance Hall, Matanzas Institute 



under fifteen years of age of between 190,000 and 200,000 inhabitants. In 1840 Camaguey 

 Province, with about 250,000 inhabitants, had only 1,408 pupils in school, while Santiago 

 Province, with 300,000 inhabitants, had only 991 pupils. In Santa Clara, from 1821 to 

 1834, only one school was in existence. 



The period between 1840 and the date of the American occupation witnessed a gen- 

 eral reform of public instruction throughout Cuba. This reform provided, in 1863, for 

 the division of all education into primary, secondary, superior and professional branches. 

 A closer cooperation between the educational systems of Spain and Cuba was introduced, 

 so that in 1878 a decree was issued by the Spanish Government making the professorates 

 in the colonies and the peninsula one body, this following a decree in 1871 providing 

 that professors of the University of Havana were eligible for professorships in Spain. 

 The validating in Spain of the titles conferred by the university in Cuba had already 

 been approved. The various wars through which Cuba passed during this period 

 were, of course, obstacles; but, notwithstanding this, a system of education excellent 

 in theory was provided. By the decree of June 18, 1880, regulating superior and 

 secondary instruction, these branches in Cuba were coordinated with the same grades 

 in Spain; furthermore, the establishment of a secondary institute in the capital of each 

 Cuban province was provided for, these institutions receiving a subvention from the 

 Governor General, the remaining funds necessary for their support being provided by 

 the provinces or municipalities. By 1882 several of these institutes had already been 

 provided in Cuba, and by 1886 the plan of study drawn up for the various faculties of 

 the University of Havana had broadened out in character until the courses were excellent. 



In 1883 the schools in the Island were composed of 535 public and 184 private 

 schools. The teachers, however, were not paid, and public instruction was neglected. 

 General supervision of public instruction was vested in the Governor General, and 



