Back-to-school in Cuba a grim day with shortages of everything

Cuban children started the new school year on Tuesday grappling with shortages of teachers, food, uniforms, and electricity, as the island faces a severe US pressure campaign. At the Maria Cabrales Elementary School in Havana, students arrived without the customary bell-ringing or music to mark the occasion, as the neighborhood had been without electricity for 28 hours.

For 35-year-old hairdresser Yannay Miranda and many other parents of Cuba's 1.4 million pupils, preparing for the new school year began long before Tuesday. They had to find uniforms for their children, arrange food, and prepare for the frequent blackouts. The government's struggles to provide uniforms have forced parents to turn to private suppliers, which come at a high price in an inflation-plagued country where the average monthly salary is $10.

Cuba once boasted a state-run, free, and universal education system, but now schools rely on parental support for necessities like uniforms, school lunches, and water. The deep energy crisis has forced the education ministry to adjust school hours and uniform requirements. The country's energy crisis has intensified since January, when the United States removed Cuba's close ally, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and halted petroleum shipments to the island. Sanctions have also caused foreign investors to flee, exacerbating the crisis.

A shortage of teachers and gasoline means no school buses, and the low pay has led many teachers to seek employment elsewhere or join the exodus of people attempting to leave the island. The Maria Cabrales school principal, Regla Maria Perera, said they will try alternative methods to run the school with limited electricity and natural light. Parents expressed concern about their children, emphasizing that education in Cuba remains sacred despite the challenges.