The Electric Union (UNE) recently revealed that students from the Estanislao Gutiérrez Polytechnic Institute in Sancti Spíritus are participating in a so-called pre-professional training program at the El Meso Photovoltaic Solar Park in Jatibonico. However, the revelation has sparked surprise and outrage on social media as the program reportedly involves students sorting and assembling nuts and bolts.
The UNE's Facebook post highlights these young individuals joining workers to assemble bolts for the construction of tables at the El Meso Solar Park, portraying this as a part of their learning process.
Nevertheless, many users have criticized the minimal technical and educational value of an activity that does little to contribute to the students' professional growth or specialized knowledge expected from technical middle-school students.
"Are these truly pre-professional practices?" some Cubans ask, pointing out that such experiences should include training in electricity, solar energy, structural design, or technical maintenance, instead of basic mechanical tasks that do not foster real skills in the trade.
This incident has reignited discussions about the crisis in Cuba's technical education system, where work practices increasingly amount to symbolic activities that neither prepare young people for the workforce nor harness their potential. Meanwhile, the nation faces a chronic shortage of qualified technicians in critical sectors such as energy, construction, and industry.
Recurring Issues in Technical Training
In Santiago de Cuba, back in February, employees of the Electric Company "actively participated" in the construction of the Las Guásimas Photovoltaic Solar Park, a key renewable energy project in the province, as the entity explained on Tuesday.
During the pre-installation phase of the solar panels, workers were "actively" engaged in sorting nuts and washers needed for assembling the metal structures that would support the photovoltaic modules.
The fact that Electric Company workers are required to perform such tasks suggests a potential shortfall in the project's logistical planning or a deterioration of construction processes, which could slow down rather than expedite the solar park's completion.
In November 2024, the Holguín Electric Company organized a bolt-sorting session for the CORUA solar park, amid a backdrop of power outages already exceeding 15 hours daily.
Understanding Cuba's Technical Education Challenges
Why is there criticism of the pre-professional training program at El Meso Solar Park?
Critics argue that the program's focus on sorting and assembling nuts and bolts offers little educational or technical value, failing to equip students with meaningful skills or specialized knowledge needed for their professional development.
What skills should pre-professional training programs ideally provide?
Ideally, these programs should offer training in areas such as electricity, solar energy, structural design, and technical maintenance, fostering skills that are applicable and valuable in the workforce.
How does the current state of technical education in Cuba impact its workforce?
The current system often reduces work practices to symbolic activities, leaving young people unprepared for the job market and exacerbating the country's shortage of qualified technicians in essential sectors.