Schools reopen across Cuba as fuel, water and power shortages persist

On Tuesday, August 31, 2026, schools across Cuba reopened for the new academic year, with an estimated 1.4 million children and 135,000 teachers set to attend. However, the island nation's persistent fuel, water and power shortages continue to pose significant challenges for the education system. The Barroso family, for instance, sent one of their daughters to school by hitching a cart to a borrowed horse, as school buses are not operating.

This family has also experienced the dire consequences of these shortages firsthand - their horse was recently stolen and killed for food. The government's education minister, Naima Trujillo Barreto, acknowledged the difficulties, describing the reopening of schools as a "heroic act" for the island, whose universal and free education system was once a symbol of the 1959 revolution.

However, the multiple crises have forced the government to prematurely end the previous school year in June. The lack of qualified teachers has been particularly acute, with coverage dropping to just 73% across the island. To address this, the government has recruited over 3,000 teachers from other parts of Cuba. Despite this, parents and professionals in the private sector are now stepping in to help fill the gaps, with school meals often only available for a 15-day period.