World Bank Document

In the UNESCO tests of language and mathematics, the mean
value for Cubans was two standard deviations better than the mean
value for other Latin American countries. Another interesting feature
of the Cuban data is that Cuba had only one-fourth the number of
fights in the school system in contrast with the data from the schools
in the other Latin American countries.
The Cuban data are compatible with the concept that a good early
child development (ECD) program can improve outcomes for a mixed
population (African, Spanish, Indian). Cuba’s ECD initiatives begin

Scientific Underpinnings of the Importance of ECD in a Global World 69

Language score

360

320

280

240

200

Cuba

Chile Argentina

Brazil

Colombia

Mexico

Parents’ education (years)

14 8 12 16

Figure 6. Sociocultural Gradients for Language Scores by Country

Source:Adapted from Willms 2002, p. 91.

Table 2. Life Expectancy (Years)

by Country

Country Years

Argentina 74.1

Brazil 68.0

Chile 76.0

Cuba 76.7

Mexico 73.3

Source:Fukuda-Parr 2004.