The administration of EIDE Lino Salabarría, the Sports Initiation School in Sancti Spíritus, announced on Sunday that students will need to return from their break "on their own," according to a notification shared on the official Facebook page of Yayabo Deportivo, the province's INDER representative.
This brief announcement highlights the institution's inability to provide transportation for its students following their vacation, a duty traditionally managed by the Cuban regime.
Students at EIDE are young athletes from various parts of the province who rely on state-operated transport for their commuting needs.
The phrase "on their own" signifies that each student and their family must figure out how to reach the school, regardless of how far they live, in a nation where public transportation is virtually non-existent and private passenger services are prohibited.
This announcement comes amid a fuel crisis impacting Cuban schools since early 2026.
In Matanzas, shortages of diesel and gasoline have prevented over 90,000 students from attending 504 schools.
At the university level, 7,879 scholarship recipients were sent back to their municipalities due to fuel shortages, and exam schedules were adjusted for 176,579 students across 107 programs.
Sancti Spíritus is no stranger to these issues. Back in September 2020, during the post-pandemic reopening, intermunicipal transport in Sancti Spíritus was restored at just 50% capacity to facilitate the return of EIDE students, highlighting the chronic logistical challenges faced by the system.
The dire conditions in Cuban schools have worsened over the past year, with institutions suffering from shortages in transportation, food, and maintenance across multiple provinces.
EIDE Lino Salabarría holds national significance, having been chosen as the venue for the 60th National School Games, receiving investments of around five million pesos to prepare its facilities for the event.
Sancti Spíritus participated in 24 out of the 33 sports featured in that edition.
Nevertheless, this investment in infrastructure starkly contrasts with the inability to ensure basic student transportation.
The Cuban sports budget for 2026 is a mere 8,274 million Cuban pesos, approximately $20,200, a figure grossly insufficient to maintain the logistical operations of these institutions nationwide.
The breakdown of school transportation is part of a broader deterioration affecting the return to classes in Cuba, where families across the country face every school term or vacation return without any assurance of mobility for their children.
FAQs on the Transportation Crisis in Cuban Schools
Why are students in Sancti Spíritus required to find their own transportation?
The EIDE Lino Salabarría cannot provide transportation due to logistical challenges and a national fuel crisis, leaving students to arrange their own travel.
How does the fuel crisis affect Cuban schools?
The fuel crisis has led to transportation shortages, preventing students from reaching schools and forcing educational institutions to adjust schedules and operations.
What measures has Sancti Spíritus taken in response to transportation issues?
In the past, Sancti Spíritus has attempted to restore transport capacity partially, but ongoing logistical issues continue to impede reliable student movement.