Cuba schools open amid blackouts and teacher shortages

Cuban children began the new school year Tuesday amid shortages of teachers, food and uniforms, with many schools also facing power cuts during the island's energy crisis.

At Maria Cabrales Elementary School in Havana, pupils arrived without the usual bell-ringing or music. The surrounding neighbourhood had been without electricity for 28 hours.

Parents of Cuba's 1.4 million pupils have had to find uniforms, arrange food and prepare for frequent blackouts. The government has struggled to provide uniforms, pushing many families toward private suppliers. Uniforms cost the equivalent of $2 to $5 in a country where the average monthly salary is $10.

The shortages also affect school lunches, cleaning supplies and water-related needs, which parents are increasingly expected to handle. The education ministry has become more flexible about school hours and uniforms because of the energy crisis.

The government says it failed to fill 25 percent of teaching positions this year, with the shortage especially severe in Havana. About 300 teachers from other provinces have transferred to the capital.

Blackouts and fuel shortages disrupted the previous school year, with many pupils attending classes remotely and the year ending early. The situation has worsened, with blackouts lasting up to 30 hours in Havana and days in other provinces.

Education Minister Naima Trujillo blamed the US energy blockade but said “education in Cuba is sacred.” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X that the United States is trying to “suffocate” the island.