A high school in Camagüey has resorted to publicly advertising for teachers in various subjects, highlighting the collapse of Cuba's education system and the government's inability to retain educators.
The Cuban journalist José Luis Tan Estrada took to Facebook to share a photo of a notice posted at the Pepito Mendoza García secondary school in the Agramonte region, where job openings for teachers are being offered.
This call for applications highlights the urgent need for teachers in essential subjects such as Mathematics, Spanish, and History, underscoring the severe teacher shortage.
The image of the notice, which quickly spread among parents and locals, underscores that the lack of teachers is no longer a temporary issue but has become a systemic deficiency.
Faced with empty classrooms, schools are making ad-hoc calls for teachers, replacing any planned educational strategy with the immediate need to fill schedules.
In response to the post, several users noted that this issue has persisted for years and has worsened over time.
Former university students shared experiences of being "hired" to teach while still being students themselves, even in high-performing academic centers. Educational authorities have even suggested employing first-year students as teachers, all in the name of the system's "survival."
Other comments pointed directly to the causes of the exodus, such as salaries that fail to cover basic needs, delayed payments that are difficult to access, institutional pressure to inflate promotion rates, and a growing professional demotivation.
"Love doesn't pay the bills," summarized a former teacher who left the classroom upon seeing unqualified individuals placed in front of students.
Parents and citizens agree that the crisis isn't limited to one school or even just Camagüey. High schools, pre-universities, and even prestigious centers face the same reality, as many teachers turn to informal jobs, the private sector, or emigration.
For many commentators, the deterioration in education is part of a broader collapse of the state sector, characterized by low wages, an aging population, and a total lack of incentives.
The province of Camagüey began the 2025-2026 school year with a deficit of over 2,000 teachers, critically impacting the ability to provide full classes to approximately 98,000 enrolled students.
Similarly, Matanzas started the academic period with 2,033 teaching positions unfilled across all levels of education, a number mirrored by Sancti Spíritus, which began classes with just 68% of teaching positions filled.
The 2024-2025 school year in Cuba commenced with a shortfall of 24,000 educators, amidst high migration rates, rampant inflation, and low wages in Cuban pesos. This occurs as the government intensifies the dollarization of the economy, which further discourages retention in many of the poorly paid state sector jobs.
Understanding Cuba's Education Crisis
Why are Cuban schools facing a teacher shortage?
Cuban schools are experiencing a teacher shortage due to low salaries, delayed payments, and lack of incentives, leading to an exodus of educators seeking better opportunities elsewhere.
What measures are being taken to address the teacher deficit in Camagüey?
In Camagüey, schools are publicly advertising teaching positions and even considering employing first-year students to fill the gap as a temporary solution.
How does the teacher shortage affect students in Cuba?
The shortage leads to empty classrooms and disrupts students' education, as schools struggle to maintain full schedules without adequate teaching staff.