Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of Cuba's Councils of State and Ministers, presided an event held this morning in Old Habana opening the 2018-2019 academic year for two million students at 10,000 schools across the island.

Havana, Cuba.- The ceremony took place at Rafael María de Mendive Elementary School, inaugurated today 150 years after the country's national hero, José Martí studied at the site.

Education Minister Ena Elsa Velázquez, Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal, Vietnam's ambassador in Cuba, Nguyen Trung Thanh, and other guests attended the opening of the school that bears the name of Martí's teacher.

The City Historian's Office was recognized its work on the building's renovation, originally the San Pablo College, preserving its colonial features and even some pieces of furniture from the 19th century used by Mendive.

CUBA'S PRESIDENT TOURS EDUCATIONAL CENTERS IN HAVANA

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel toured today the Rafael María de Mendive and Camilo Cienfuegos primary schools, as well as a home for the elderly, after leading the ceremony for the start of the school year 2018-2019.

In the first of these educational centers, inaugurated on Monday, the President appreciated the maintenance work received by the former San Pablo school, where 150 years ago the National Hero José Martí studied, according to a report issued by national television.

He later visited the Camilo Cienfuegos school, also restored to face the current school period.

In statements to the press, Díaz-Canel pointed out that these works reflect the will and political and social commitment of the country for the development of that sector.

He expressed his satisfaction with the constructive recovery of the Rafael Maria de Mendive school and urged the professors to honor Mendive with a comprehensive teaching process and continuing training patriots.

'Martí is present there and (...) Fidel (Castro) is present," said the Cuban President, in reference to the stamp of Martí's ideology on the political and social work of the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution.  (Granma/PL)