The upcoming school year in Cuba, starting on September 1st, paints a stark picture of the ongoing struggles faced by countless families. This year, children will be forced to share a single notebook between two subjects, highlighting the dire state of public education as it heads into 2025-2026. In a televised address on Wednesday, Education Minister Naima Trujillo admitted to the harsh reality: the so-called “adjusted standard” means that the distribution of notebooks has been halved.
What sounds like a bureaucratic term translates into a grim reality: a primary school child will have three notebooks for six subjects, and a secondary school student will have to split them in half to make them last. If a family cannot afford the 200 CUP price of a notebook on the black market, the student will have to make do with whatever is available.
Uniforms: Scarcity and Black Market Challenges
The issue of uniforms presents another significant challenge. Out of the 3.6 million necessary uniforms, only 2.3 million have been produced. The government's decision was to prioritize a few initial grades, leaving the majority of students reliant on hand-me-downs, patched-up clothing from seamstress workshops, or the black market, where a single uniform can cost over 5,000 pesos.
According to the ministry, a mere 20% of students will wear new uniforms in September. The rest will have to wait until October, hoping to receive at least one piece of clothing. In some families, the absurdity is palpable: a fifth-grade girl received a size 20 uniform intended for teenagers.
Infrastructure and Resource Shortcomings
Meanwhile, officials tout renovations in 816 educational institutions, but this number masks an uncomfortable truth: most classrooms will open with leaky roofs, broken windows, and damaged desks. Since 2018, restocking school furniture has been impossible, and in some daycare centers, children sit on the floor due to a lack of chairs.
The promise of 150,000 new fluorescent light tubes to improve classroom lighting will arrive too late. On September 1st, thousands of students will begin their education in dark or makeshift classrooms. Additionally, the government claims the arrival of new textbooks as a success, but only second, fourth, and eighth graders will receive them. Other students must continue with outdated books or, if lucky, access digital versions in a country where internet access remains a luxury.
A "Celebration" Turned into a Struggle
What should be a celebration of knowledge at the start of the school year has transformed into an act of resilience for parents, teachers, and students. While official speeches praise the dedication of seamstresses and educators, families bear the true cost of finding notebooks, buying uniforms on the black market, improvising desks, and hoping it doesn't rain over dilapidated classrooms.
Rather than a triumph, the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year exposes the harsh reality of a system unable to provide the basics. In Cuba, studying now demands the same creativity and sacrifice as surviving.
Key Questions About Cuba's Education Crisis
What challenges do Cuban students face with school supplies?
Cuban students encounter significant challenges due to a shortage of school supplies, such as having to share notebooks between multiple subjects, as well as high costs for materials on the black market.
How are uniform shortages affecting Cuban students?
Uniform shortages mean that only a small percentage of students receive new uniforms, while the majority rely on hand-me-downs, repaired clothing, or costly black market options.
What infrastructure problems are Cuban schools facing?
Many Cuban schools suffer from issues such as leaky roofs, broken windows, and a lack of adequate furniture, with some children forced to sit on the floor due to a lack of chairs.