The Gilberto González Rojas secondary school in Cacocum, located in the Holguín province, is facing severe structural issues. With balconies on the verge of collapse, deteriorating staircases, and unsanitary classrooms, both students and parents are voicing concerns over the government's neglect, which endangers the lives of countless teenagers.
Students paint a bleak picture of their learning environment: walls plagued by leaks, restrooms in disrepair, and school snacks described as subpar. The recreational area floods with each rainfall, hindering physical education classes and denying students essential spaces for their development, as reported by the Facebook user La Tijera.
Superficial Fixes Amidst Urgent Needs
Instead of urgent repairs, authorities have resorted to cosmetic improvements, such as painting walls to give an illusion of progress. School management has restricted access to dangerous areas, posting guards as a stopgap measure that fails to address the immediate threat, according to the source.
Adding to the material woes is a ban on mobile phones, complicating communication for students who travel long distances to a school that is short on teachers and class periods. Many young people must spend money on transportation and snacks just to reach a place where their enthusiasm is waning.
“How do they expect us to want to attend school when we have no breakfast, no study materials, and, above all, no motivation?” questioned an eighth-grade student speaking on behalf of peers who fear retaliation for speaking out.
Community Demands Action
Parents and citizens have taken to social media to express their outrage. "Until a school collapses on children, they won't stop," warned one commenter. Others are calling for a halt to sending children to school until safety is assured, criticizing institutions for spending on paint while ignoring structural issues.
The school community is demanding clear answers and immediate solutions to prevent what is currently a complaint from turning into a foreseeable tragedy. Cuban families have criticized the government for labeling the start of the 2025-2026 school year as "joyful" when ordinary Cubans face blackouts, lack of resources, and poor classroom conditions.
Systemic Educational Challenges
The government admitted to producing only 2.2 million of the 3.6 million uniforms planned for this school year, with only 20% of students receiving new clothing. The rest rely on hand-me-downs or the black market, where a uniform costs over 5,000 pesos.
Additionally, a "revised standard" was introduced, reducing the provision of notebooks: three per child in primary school to cover six subjects. In secondary, these must be split in half. Those unable to afford the 200 CUP for a notebook in the informal market simply can't record their classes.
The challenges extend to teaching staff. In Matanzas, over 2,000 teachers are missing, leading to classrooms filled with university students, hourly contracts, and unqualified personnel. Similar shortages in provinces like Camagüey and Sancti Spíritus severely impact educational quality.
Emergency Measures and Ongoing Struggles
The Minister of Education, Naima Trujillo, insisted the school year began due to "collective effort," yet acknowledged that many schools only opened after emergency repairs led by parents, cooperatives, and local businesses. Leaky roofs, insufficient furniture, out-of-order restrooms, and dim classrooms remain prevalent.
Recently, Cuban content creator @ledyhr92 revisited her former school in Santa Clara. Thirteen years later, she returned to the Manuel Fajardo School of Sports Initiation in Villa Clara, only to find it in ruins: overgrown corridors, broken floors, collapsed roofs, and classrooms overtaken by neglect.
Key Issues in Cuban Education
What are the main safety concerns at Gilberto González Rojas secondary school?
The primary safety concerns include balconies at risk of collapse, deteriorating staircases, and unsanitary classrooms, posing a threat to student safety.
How have authorities responded to the school's structural issues?
Authorities have focused on cosmetic improvements like painting walls instead of addressing urgent repairs, while restricting access to dangerous areas as a temporary measure.
What challenges do students face in terms of resources?
Students face a lack of basic resources such as breakfast, study materials, and motivation, along with limited access to mobile phones for communication.
What are parents and the community demanding?
Parents and the community are demanding concrete solutions and assurances of safety before sending their children back to school.