Cuban Mothers Torn Over Sending Kids to School Amid Crisis: "It's About More Than Just Education"

The start of the school year in Cuba has ignited an unprecedented debate among Cuban mothers, with clashing views on whether to send their children to classes amidst severe power outages, hunger, and schools the regime itself admits are unfit to host students.

This controversy erupted in the Facebook group "Cuban Mothers Fighters 2," where a mother named Brenda Martínez shared a post that quickly drew dozens of conflicting responses. Her main point: denying children their education is not the solution, as knowledge is a gift that cannot be taken away.

"I've seen countless posts saying my child is not going to school because living conditions are unbearable. Mamas, that won't change, and our children have the right to learn regardless of electricity, food, or teachers," wrote Martínez, who acknowledged her own struggles: lacking a backpack, shoes, belt, with second-hand uniforms.

The Struggle for Basic Needs

The response from other mothers was swift and largely critical.

"Of course we want them to study, but the issue is: how do you expect kids who don't sleep at night, have no breakfast in the morning, and some who go to bed with just a piece of bread or nothing at all to comprehend anything?" one user replied.

Another was more direct about the physical demands of learning: "It's true it's unfair to deprive them of education, but it's equally unfair not to have rest. To learn and remember, the brain needs sleep. Without it, even an ant can't think straight, let alone with no food."

A Political Dimension

Some comments took the debate to a political level.

"The issue is bigger than whether kids study or not... see it as a form of protest within our grasp. An entire country where children don't attend school, a student strike because most of us disagree with this system, that would be ideal," suggested one participant, arguing that sending kids to school equates to supporting the regime.

Others rejected this reasoning. "I'm a mother and grandmother; the right to education shouldn't be taken away from children. Maybe they can't go every day, but a mother must sacrifice for them," another user commented.

Facing an Uncertain Future

Another was blunt about the prospects awaiting these children: "Study for what? To work and earn eight thousand for a bottle of oil."

One mother summed up with bitterness the stance of many: "I'm not sending my child to school until he sleeps with electricity."

Numerous Cuban mothers have declared their children will not attend school unless basic conditions improve, and the debate on social media shows no signs of cooling off before the first day of classes.

Education System Under Pressure

Education Minister Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto acknowledged on Thursday that the school year will begin with "tremendous difficulties" due to a shortage of teachers, uniforms, and power outages—a stark contrast to her previous statement that "September will once again be a celebration."

The previous academic year had to be cut short, between June 15 and 30, due to the energy crisis and fuel shortages.

Cuba's educational system is grappling with a deficit of at least 24,000 teachers, representing 12.5% of the positions needed. Uniform production meets only 12% of the primary school demand.

This is compounded by a food crisis documented by the World Food Program (WFP), which revealed that 48.5% of Cuban children aged six to 11 receive no meals or snacks at school.