Private Spanish School Thrives in Havana Amidst Deteriorating Cuban Public Institutions

In the Playa district of Havana, a private Spanish school showcases modernized facilities and international education, contrasting with the thousands of Cuban students who attend dilapidated local schools.

The Centro Educativo Español de La Habana (CEEH) recently shared images on Instagram of their newly renovated classrooms and a freshly updated sports field. "This school year, our goal is to create ideal spaces for our students, meeting their expectations and needs," the institution stated in another post.

Positioned on 5th Avenue B between 68th and 70th streets in Playa, the school provides education from preschool to high school, adhering to the Spanish curriculum. According to Wikipedia, the center operates two campuses within three kilometers of each other, catering to the children of Spanish citizens living in Havana, other foreigners, diplomats, and businesspeople.

The school's social media highlights international student exchanges and boasts facilities that starkly contrast with the reality of Cuban public schools, where building collapses, lack of desks, and broken blackboards are commonplace.

Cuban content creator Elieser El Bayardo (@elieser_elbayardo) remarked in a viral video that the school "operates under European standards, free from leaks or propaganda, with fees in the thousands of dollars, accessible only to the children of officials, families with foreign currency, or well-connected individuals."

Bayardo further commented, "While the system preaches equality, this school proves that privileges do exist and that quality appears when not reliant on the Cuban State."

In response to the school's posts, numerous Cuban users voiced frustration over the educational divide. "It's wonderful to see a school without pervasive propaganda," one user wrote. Another added, "We need more schools like this, even if they're not free, but offer real education."

A user named Mercedes Denis Peláez praised the CEEH, noting, "It's been over 20 years, and the CEEH continues to produce outstanding students of international caliber."

However, controversy arose when Cuban parents inquired about enrolling their children by paying the admission fee. "I'd like to know if a native Cuban child can enroll here by covering the admission cost," one user questioned. Another bluntly replied, "Of course not, those schools are only for the privileged."

One user clarified that the center's website lists being a foreigner residing in Cuba as a primary requirement, although another noted, "If you're the child of wealthy Cuban parents, you can certainly enroll."

Users expressed outrage over the inequality. "The school is beautiful, but what about the other children who lack such privileges? It's an illusion for a few, while the rest are left out," commented a Cuban mother. Another user recalled, "I have nothing against this, in fact, I hope they can educate many children with true values and knowledge. But it's heartbreaking that millions of children, like myself, were given expired yogurt for recess."

The official account of the center responded to several comments: "As an international educational institution, we maintain a strictly academic focus while respecting all realities."

This diplomatic response did little to quell the discontent among those who view the school as a symbol of the inequality that the Cuban government claims to fight, but continues to perpetuate.

On August 19, 2024, the Republic's Official Gazette published Decree 107/2024, updating the list of prohibited activities for micro, small, and medium enterprises, non-agricultural cooperatives, and self-employed workers. The regulation reaffirms the state monopoly over education and explicitly bans issuing licenses for private education businesses. No non-state entity is legally authorized to provide educational services in Cuba, effectively closing the door to Cuban private schools, academies, or institutes, while foreign institutions like the CEEH operate without restrictions.

"This isn't the reality for Cuban children and adolescents. God willing, all Cuban children and adolescents could have the right and opportunity to study in such schools," lamented a user.

While the CEEH promotes its refurbished facilities and European educational standards, thousands of Cuban children continue to attend public schools where roofs leak, walls crack, and political propaganda fills every corner.