Cuba readies to kick off school year despite scant supplies

Havana – Cuba prepares to commence the school year next week, despite enduring a severe crisis that has crippled transportation, electricity, and led to dwindling teacher numbers and a shortage of essential supplies such as uniforms. Nearly 1.4 million children and adolescents are set to return to school in September, announced the island's education minister, Naima Trujillo.

Trujillo acknowledged the severe consequences of the "collective asphyxiation" Cuba is experiencing, emphasizing that this year's triumph will be merely enduring the school year at all. The crisis escalated since June, when students were released early for summer break due to transportation and electricity issues exacerbated by tightened U.S. sanctions under President Donald Trump.

Washington has imposed additional sanctions on various Cuban officials, alleging anti-American activities, in an attempt to intensify pressure on Cuba's communist regime. Havana maintains that the U.S. aims to damage its economy and hinder the provision of basic services.

Cuba has long prided itself on offering free and universal state-provided education, which it considers one of its greatest achievements. However, the ongoing crisis, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, has raised doubts about the sustainability of this model. Teacher coverage in Cuban schools has plummeted to 73%, with many teachers emigrating or seeking better-paying jobs.

Trujillo stated that the sector would recruit university students, professionals from other sectors, and bring back retirees, offering additional compensation to maintain school operations. Havana province, grappling with significant staffing shortages, will receive around 3,000 teachers from eastern Cuba, where schools are better staffed.

Shortages have also affected the distribution of school uniforms, with official garments available to meet only 12% of the demand for primary school children due to factory blackouts. The minister encouraged schools to be accommodating and allow students to wear "comfortable clothes" and their traditional red neckerchiefs.