Twelfth Degree at the University of Havana: Palliative, or Final Strategy?

Abstract

 Since the academic year 2009-2010, a new plan has been applied to 11th grade students who are interested in pursuing higher level education in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biological Sciences, as an effort to increase the knowledge demanded by the university level, and to improve the indices of access and permanence in the careers mentioned above. Based on their performance in the "additional requisites" exams established by the higher education institutions, these students are selected to take the 12th grade at the universities, under the guidance of university staff. In this paper we explain some of the actions taken on these students at the University of Havana in order to improve their learning of the concepts, laws and theories of Physics, to increase their independence, to develop their practical and intellectual abilities, and to raise their interest in Physics.