Severe Injury at Santiago de Cuba Vocational School Sparks Outrage Over Safety Concerns

A serious altercation erupted on Sunday at the Antonio Maceo Vocational School of Exact Sciences in Santiago de Cuba, leaving a young student critically injured, according to early reports. The incident, which has caused alarm among students, faculty, and local residents, highlights ongoing security issues plaguing educational institutions in the region.

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared initial details of the event on Facebook, compiling various theories based on accounts from students and those close to the school. One account suggests that youths from the nearby San Juan neighborhood entered the premises seeking revenge after being mocked by some students. Armed with knives and machetes, they allegedly instigated a confrontation within the school, Mayeta reported.

Amid the chaos, one student reportedly climbed onto a building ledge to escape the attackers and jumped off, suffering severe injuries to his head, mouth, and nose. Another version of the events, as noted by the journalist, claims that an outsider entered a tenth-grader's dormitory, assaulted him, stabbed him, and allegedly pushed him from a significant height, explaining the severity of his injuries.

Witnesses stated that fellow students quickly aided the injured youth, managing to get him to the street where he was fortuitously attended to by a passing ambulance and swiftly transported to a medical facility. Mayeta emphasized that he is in touch with medical and educational sources to verify further details while respecting the privacy of the victim and his family by withholding his identity.

Reports also criticize the inadequate security measures at the school, noting that despite previous incidents involving unauthorized individuals entering the campus, effective preventive actions had not been implemented. No official updates on the student's health status have been released, although it is known that his condition remains critical.

In a recent update, independent journalist Mayeta Labrada reported via Facebook that the Antonio Maceo school has been taken over by military personnel and forensic vehicles to investigate the incident's circumstances. Authorities are working to determine whether the severely injured student "jumped or was pushed" from the third-floor ledge.

Escalating Violence in Cuba

In recent years, multiple media outlets and official statements have confirmed a steady rise in violence across Cuba, impacting not only public spaces but also school zones. In June 2024, the regime acknowledged the surge in criminal activity, including firearm use, according to statements by Colonel Eddy Sierra Arias, head of the National Revolutionary Police. He attributed this trend to drug trafficking, smuggling, and a decline in ethical values within Cuban society.

A month later, President Miguel Díaz-Canel publicly acknowledged the increase in violence, crime, and addiction during a session of the National Assembly. Despite the Ministry of the Interior's claimed efforts, the president conceded that the situation remained complex and that a stronger response was needed across all social sectors.

Furthermore, a survey published by the official magazine Bohemia in November 2023 revealed that 92% of respondents perceived a significant rise in street violence, with nearly half knowing someone directly affected by violence. Although these figures originate from regime-affiliated media, they support the widespread perception of insecurity among Cubans.

The official press has also recognized the absence of clear protocols and public statistics on these issues, as noted in a February 2023 article. The lack of official data not only hampers institutional response capabilities but also fuels public skepticism towards state media narratives. As 2024 drew to a close, the government confirmed that crime rates remained high, as reported in December. Despite implementing new controls and operations, the situation showed no improvement.