Education in Cuba is mandatory until the ninth grade of secondary school and is free on all levels, including university education. Less than 1.0 percent of students drop out of primary education, and 98.2 percent continue their studies after the sixth grade. When it comes to preschool education data are even more impressing: 98 percent of Cuban children of appropriate age attend preschool and primary school gross enrolment is close to 100 percent.There is a strict maximum of 25 children per primary-school class, many of which have as few as 20. Secondary schools are striving towards only 15 pupils per class.Many schools open at 6.30am and close 12 hours later, providing free morning and after-school care for working parents with no extended family. The first 90 minutes of the day are devoted to breakfast and free play. Core academics take place from 8:40-12:30, followed by another 90 minutes of lunch and games or recess. Between 2 PM and 4 PM, kids engage in a range of activities we would call enriched learning, such as health, art, music and sports. At 4 PM, students again transition to games and supervised play until it’s time to go home.