As with all places in the world today, the type of job that a Cuban school child can get when they grow up depends on whether the child left school at 15, once he finished secondary school and obtained his Secondary School Completion Diploma, or whether they went on to Technical School or University. If they go to Technical School, or University, they have a much better chancre of getting a middle-management / management job than if they left school with only a Secondary School Completion Diploma.
Usually in Cuba children with only a Secondary School Diploma will work in the fields farming. Most likely they either work as a tobacco farmer – helping to make Cuba’s famous cigars – or as a sugar cane planter. Both of these jobs are very hard labor and so some people avoid these by becoming full time members of Cuba’s army, which is really the only other choice they used to have. However, recent advancements in the Cuban economy, especially for tourist related work, means that Cuban’s with only a Secondary School Diploma can now work in tourist related jobs like waiters, barmen, waitress, bus and coach drivers, train drivers, or one of the many hotel related jobs. If they are lucky, and can speak English well, they may even get to join the management training program of one of the hotels.
On the other hand, if they left school with a Tertiary education or University degree then they are likely to get more responsible work. Tertiary educated school children Are likely to become middle-management in Cuban companies. Whilst University graduates usually become doctors or engineers.
But, whatever they do, there is a very strong chance that they will all be working for the Cuban government as most of the companies in Cuba are state-owned companies. Finally, as they work for state owned companies, it is likely that their salary is not going to be very high – the government doesn’t pay well! So, there’s a good chance that their social position won’t be much different whatever they do because they live in a communist system where everyone is equal.
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