Austin Llerandi, a graduate in Pedagogical Sciences from the Enrique José Varona Higher Pedagogical Institute in Ciudad Libertad, recently released a video highlighting the neglect surrounding his alma mater and revealing that he is currently unable to teach Spanish and Literature due to a social media post.
Filmed outside the Ciudad Libertad Pedagogical Institute in the Marianao district of Havana, the video showcases piles of trash and a fallen perimeter fence.
"The area resembles a landfill, much like the Cuban educational system," Llerandi remarks in the footage.
Llerandi shared that he completed his degree five years ago with a thesis on literature and video games, a topic that was cutting-edge at the university at the time.
He recounted how his thesis opponent, known as Gerardo García Barceló, penalized him with a low grade due to a lack of understanding of the subject.
However, the most significant setback occurred post-graduation. In June 2022, Llerandi posted a photo on Facebook showing his university diploma in a pot with plain white rice, to emphasize it was the only food he could afford.
"No hardworking Cuban like myself should have to beg for food or anything else," he asserted in the viral post.
In that post, Llerandi also detailed the prices on the black market: 10 pounds of chicken for 1,200 Cuban pesos (CUP), a carton of eggs for 1,000 CUP, and a pound of rice for 50 CUP.
He believes this act of protest cost him his teaching career, as he states in his recent video.
"Five years ago, I graduated from this Pedagogical Institute, and today I can't practice my profession as a Spanish and Literature teacher because of a video—a Facebook post where I exercised my legitimate right to express myself by placing my diploma in a pot filled with rice," he emphasized.
Beyond his personal experience, Llerandi highlights a systemic issue, stating that "Cuban education is a disaster, focused solely on achieving statistics while neglecting overall quality."
He concluded his video with a poignant remark: "Every place ends up with the outcome it deserves."
His testimony comes amid an escalating educational crisis. Cuba commenced the 2024-2025 school year with a shortfall of 24,000 teachers, representing 12.5% of the required positions.
Teacher salaries in Cuba range from 4,000 to 9,400 CUP monthly, equating to about eight to 20 dollars, juxtaposed against a living cost exceeding 40,000 CUP.
The repercussions faced by outspoken teachers are not isolated incidents. In March, professor Abel Tablada was dismissed from the José Antonio Echeverría Technological University of Havana after posting critiques on Facebook.
Similarly, Roberto Viña Martínez was removed in January from the Higher Institute of Art for similar posts, resulting in a loss of more than 70% of his income.
In April, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel defended the "free" education system amid a professional exodus, sparking widespread backlash.
A Cuban citizen responded pointedly to Díaz-Canel's claim of free education: "What do you mean by free education when everything is paid for through taxes?"
Understanding Cuba's Educational and Economic Challenges
Why was Austin Llerandi unable to continue teaching?
Austin Llerandi was barred from teaching due to a social media post in which he criticized the economic situation by placing his diploma in a pot of rice, symbolizing the lack of food available to him.
What does Llerandi's video reveal about the state of Cuban education?
Llerandi's video shows the physical neglect of educational institutions and criticizes the Cuban educational system for prioritizing statistics over quality.
How does the current economic situation affect Cuban teachers?
Cuban teachers face economic challenges with salaries ranging from eight to 20 dollars a month, while the cost of living is significantly higher, leading to difficulties in affording basic necessities.