School struggles in Cuba due to fuel shortages

In western Cuba, six-year-old Axisa and seven-year-old Aron Alfonso are lucky—their dad rides them to school on horseback. But most kids aren’t so fortunate. A dying Soviet-era bus system means many children miss class entirely because teachers can’t even get to school. The problem? A U. S. oil blockade has strangled Cuba’s fuel supply, leaving the country in an energy crisis that’s grinding daily life to a halt. Cuba tried to fix this by cutting school days in half and pushing college students into online learning. But blackouts can last over 20 hours a day, and most families can’t afford phone data for classes. Instead, professors send lessons through WhatsApp voice notes—hardly a real replacement for a classroom. The government even scrapped college exams early because students were too exhausted from sleepless nights without power and meals. This isn’t just a temporary problem. Schools were already struggling after Hurricane Melissa last year, which damaged hundreds of buildings. Teacher shortages are another big issue—over 26, 000 educators have quit in recent years for better-paying jobs abroad. The COVID-19 exodus made it worse, with more than a million people leaving, including thousands of teachers. Now, many schools can’t even stay open.Before the fuel blockade, Cuba’s education system was once a point of pride. After the 1959 revolution, the government launched a massive literacy campaign, slashing illiteracy rates. Free education became a cornerstone of Cuban society. But decades of low wages for teachers and engineers have drained the system. Without incentives, many choose to leave or switch careers—like Alejandro Paradero, who dropped out of university to make charcoal because teaching paid almost nothing. Even when schools do open, getting there is a nightmare. Parents like Yaymaris Rodríguez spend hours hitchhiking with their kids, waiting on roadsides for rides that may never come. Half-day schedules don’t help—parents can’t shuttle back in time for pickup. For many, the choice becomes simple: work or study. Experts warn this isn’t just about missed classes—it’s a long-term threat. UNESCO’s regional director called the crisis a “serious threat” to an entire generation. Cuba’s education system, once a model, is now a shadow of its former self. And with fuel shortages showing no sign of easing, the future of learning in Cuba is more uncertain than ever.