On Facebook, a Cuban journalist named David Cu shared an image of brand-new secondary school textbooks, along with a celebratory message about his daughter's start to the school year with all her necessary materials. This comes as Cuba faces an unprecedented educational and energy crisis.
In his post, Cu acknowledged the "thousand difficulties, five hundred problems, four hundred limitations," yet he portrayed it as a triumph of the Cuban educational system, proudly stating that "over a million students" were returning to classrooms.
Cu also took the opportunity to criticize those "from Miami" who highlight the dire conditions of the school year's start, suggesting they should instead pressure Marco Rubio and Trump to lift the blockade.
His post sparked a flood of reactions from other Cubans who described a reality starkly different from that of the official spokesperson. "My son in 4th grade: one book for two, two notebooks, and a pencil," wrote one commentator. Another mother mentioned her daughters received no uniforms and described the books as "tattered." A third recounted how her daughter, beginning first grade, did not receive writing or math notebooks: "They didn't give them out; there aren't any."
"You're privileged. My daughter is in fourth grade and today received books in terrible condition. I have no idea how I'll fix and cover them, so don't make me laugh," another person remarked.
Several internet users pointed out the disparity between the journalist's situation and that of most Cuban families. "It's clear that some children are privileged... 'the child of' already has new books. While others, the children of any Cuban woman, either have none or receive damaged ones," wrote a particularly pointed comment.
A different parent went further, questioning if the journalist's daughter also has "24-hour electricity to ensure she can rest for school, a good breakfast, a decent snack, and a substantial meal when she returns home," directly referencing the nation's energy and food scarcity.
"Your daughter is lucky to start with new books, as there are children who don't have enough books or notebooks in the classrooms," another Cuban summarized in response to the journalist.
An additional comment reminded that "the Ministry of Education has completely abandoned its responsibilities" concerning material distribution, leaving parents and teachers to supply schools with their resources.
Educational and Social Challenges in Cuba
The start of the school year in Cuba unfolds amidst a devastating economic and social landscape. The Education Minister, Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto, conceded that the school year begins under "very difficult" conditions.
The educational system is grappling with a shortage of at least 24,000 teachers, accounting for 12.5% of the required positions, and merely 20% of students will receive new uniforms, as only 2.2 to 2.3 million garments were produced of the 3.6 million needed.
Simultaneously, Cuba commenced the school year under blackouts affecting up to 70% of the country, with 11 out of 16 thermoelectric units offline and a generation deficit of 2,310 MW during peak hours. Some areas were experiencing outages exceeding twenty hours daily.
Amidst this reality, the official narrative frames the start of the school year as "another act of heroism," with a Party leader in Camagüey even claiming that resuming classes was "a blow to imperialism."
Understanding Cuba's Educational Crisis
What challenges does the Cuban education system face at the start of the school year?
The Cuban education system is facing a teacher shortage, with a deficit of 24,000 educators. Only a small percentage of students are receiving new uniforms, and there are widespread blackouts affecting the country, complicating the start of the school year.
How are Cuban families coping with the lack of school materials?
Many Cuban families are sharing school materials among students due to shortages. Parents and teachers often have to supply the necessary resources to the schools out of their own pockets.