Guantánamo Alters School Schedule Amid Energy Crisis, Parents Demand More Action

In response to the ongoing energy crisis gripping the nation, the educational system in Guantánamo is set to modify school schedules. However, there is growing frustration among families who argue that the conditions are becoming untenable for children to attend classes.

Schools and childcare centers will now open their doors at 9:00 a.m., with pickups starting at 2:30 p.m., as announced by Antonio Tamayo Romero, the deputy director of Education in the region, during the "Revista Guantánamo" program on the Solvisión channel. From 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., supplementary activities will be conducted to accommodate students, emphasized the official, while clarifying that "there is no suspension of academic activities; we are facing a complex situation, but it does not mean that educational and social development in our province will be halted."

For middle schools lacking school snacks, only one session of classes will be conducted. Additionally, students are permitted to attend in "appropriate clothing" instead of uniforms, due to challenges in washing and ironing.

Despite assurances that educational institutions will maintain their usual schedule to align with family work needs, public reactions have been immediate. "If my child can't sleep, has no food because there's nothing to cook with, and no clean clothes, I'm sorry to say he won't be attending school," stated a concerned mother in one of the numerous comments following the release of a video on the Facebook profile of Guantánamo journalist Miguel Reyes Mendoza.

The sentiment is echoed by many parents who are dealing not just with power outages, but also shortages of water, food, and rest. Lismay Torres Savigñón suggested that it would be more prudent to "accelerate the end of the school year," noting that children endure sleepless nights without fans due to power cuts. "What child wants to go to school, and what parent can bear to send them if the kids are irritable and exhausted?" she questioned.

The tone of messages is increasingly desperate. "We don't want flexibility, we want lives... We seem like zombies, lifeless, destroyed, without spirit, without joy, without the will to smile. This is a horror of a life," wrote Katerine Díaz Lobaina.

Yurislaine Erbella was more direct: "They should suspend the educational process. Besides, what exams can children take if they have no electricity to study... and many, apart from not sleeping, have no breakfast or lunch to sustain themselves? The schools should be closed, not be abusive."

Recently, education authorities in Artemisa also implemented changes in class schedules and relaxed regulations to maintain the education process amid the effects of the energy crisis. These measures highlight the forced adaptation of the educational system to an ongoing crisis.

The extensive blackouts and lack of potable water across various provinces have fueled anger among parents, who question the government's insistence on sending their children to school without basic conditions for their well-being. In many areas, even bread for snacks is unavailable due to shortages of flour, water, and electricity.

The disconnection of key units has repeatedly caused the National Electric System (SEN) to collapse, prompting the government to suspend classes in schools and shut down non-essential state institutions to curb energy consumption. However, these measures have not alleviated the impact on the daily lives of Cubans, who struggle with basic activities like cooking, preserving food, and accessing essential services, leading to significant emotional strain.