An educator from Cuba's eastern region has been separated from his family for nearly six months—since January 3, 2026—after being mobilized to counteract the chronic teacher shortage in Havana.
This Friday, alongside hundreds of fellow teachers, he is attempting to return home on a special train arranged by the Ministry of Transport, which departed from La Coubre station two hours behind schedule.
"It will be six months the day after tomorrow since I last went home, from January 3, supporting education here in Havana," the teacher shared on camera.
His final destination is in the eastern region, where his 10-year-old daughter awaits, whom he hasn't seen during this entire period.
Challenges and Delays in Teachers' Return Journey
The train, consisting of 11 cars, is covering the Havana-Bayamo/Manzanillo route and was specifically organized to transport educators who have completed the 2025-2026 school year in the capital.
The departure was scheduled for 7:30 in the morning, but technical issues and electrical supply problems caused a delay.
"The departure was planned for 7:30. There are issues with the engine, there's fuel, but we have to understand as it has been a difficult situation," explained the teacher, noting that the train was already two hours late with his family waiting at the other end of the Island.
Yandy Benet Acosta, Resource Planning Director of Havana's General Directorate of Education, confirmed this is the second extra train dispatched during the vacation period.
Efforts to Alleviate Cuba's Transport and Education Crises
An earlier convoy on July 1 transported 680 teachers to Guantánamo, encountering a three-hour delay due to technical failures, including issues with three cars and a broken hose.
Teachers were required to arrive four hours before departure, with pick-ups starting at 5:30 a.m. across Havana's 11 municipalities.
The return operation, coordinated between MITRANS, the Union of Railways of Cuba, and the General Directorate of Education of Havana, includes departures to Guantánamo, Bayamo, Manzanillo, and Santiago de Cuba during the first half of July.
Seats not occupied by teachers and students are available to the general public; return trips to Havana are reserved entirely for this priority group.
The educator explained the system: "Trains are now departing every 16 days, but extra trains are being dispatched to Bayamo, Santiago, and Guantánamo, transporting students and teachers who have stayed in Havana after finishing the school year."
This operation occurs amidst Cuba's worst railway crisis in decades: only 12 of the 34 necessary locomotives are operational, 67% of the tracks require urgent maintenance, and MITRANS declared a "state of emergency" in February 2026, reducing regular train frequency to one departure every 16 days per destination. In May, a journey from Holguín to Havana took up to 27 hours.
This transportation crisis compounds with an educational one: Cuba has faced a deficit of 24,000 teachers since the 2024-2025 school year, particularly impacting Havana and the teaching of exact sciences.
Hope Amidst Adversity
To mitigate the situation, the regime mobilized teachers from the eastern provinces, who spent entire months away from their families.
The 2025-2026 school year was concluded earlier, between June 15 and 30, due to energy and transport issues.
Despite the circumstances, the teacher remained hopeful as he departed: "Of course, I am eager to get home, see my family, my 10-year-old daughter whom I adore. Knowing that tomorrow or in the afternoon we will arrive in Oriente without any problems."
Understanding the Impact of Cuba's Educational and Transport Challenges
Why was the teacher away from his family for six months?
The teacher was mobilized to Havana to address a critical shortage of educators in the city, spending six months away from his family.
What caused the train delays for the teachers' return?
Technical issues and problems with the electrical supply were responsible for the train's two-hour delay in departing from Havana.
How is Cuba addressing the educational and transport crises?
Cuba is attempting to alleviate these issues by mobilizing teachers from other regions and organizing extra trains to facilitate their return home.