Along with health, public education has emerged as one of Cuba’s most successful sectors since Fidel Castro came to power on the island in February 1959. Due to its free and universal character, the regime has always defended its school model. The same thing happens with medicine and certain treatments intended for children. In the eyes of “Castroism”, the Cuban offer is better and more accessible than any other in the world.
Yesterday, Monday, students were preparing to leave their homes and start a new year in class. 1.6 million children and young peoplebetween Primary, Secondary and Pre-University, were to attend their respective establishments. However, this time, the perceived atmosphere was extremely worrying. A 12.5% of teaching positions remain vacantwhich is equivalent to one teacher in eight. Added to this deficit is a second, almost equally serious one: that of uniforms.
Although 12,000 professionals have joined the ranks of teachers, the country still needs 24,000 more (many of them coming directly from retirement), a figure that even the most optimistic cannot believe will be reached in the near future. The workforce, for the moment, must make do with a total sum of 156,000 teachers. THE Minister of Education, Naima Trujillocalled for calm and promised to maintain the “principles of freedom and universality” despite the crisis engulfing the system.
The causes of the crisis, according to the island, are multiple and most have been going on for decades. Pedagogy no longer attracts young people as much as it did at the beginning of the revolution. Its low pay This would lead the professional population to choose other horizons. Despite the above, this would be the migratory exodus The biggest factor: At least a million people are estimated to have left the country last year. Some experts say that figure has more than doubled.
Cuba has long remained isolated. The dictatorial style of its government has sown enmities with the West. Especially with the United States, which maintains its economic and commercial blockade against the island. As things stand, the island is suffering from a multiple crisis that includes high inflation levelsA budget deficit, lack of basic foods and fuel and power outages constant. Power cuts, which its “brother regime” is also facing, in Venezuela.
Uniforms, notebooks and pencils: the other emergency
It has been impossible for the government to silence the crisis affecting education. Minister Trujillo has been one of the most questioned voices and has been forced to clarify what is happening. As he acknowledged, there have been “tensions” in the distribution and marketing of uniforms. Without naming those responsible, he spoke of “organizational and planning deficiencies”including the buy fabrics abroad.
The demand, currently, is 4.2 million uniformsas stated by the Light Industry Group, belonging to the Ministry of Industry. The priority, thinking about the initial courses of each school year, is 1.7 million. Added to clothing 13 million notebooks imported And 38 million pencils. And as the Ministry of Education has taken care to specify, all these resources will remain universal and free, whatever the situation in the country.
Beyond acknowledging the circumstances, the regime has insisted that the coming year will be one of the best for children and adolescents. Without evidence to support this claim, the authorities claim to have abundant materials that would include school textbooks in accordance with the new plan for the “improvement of education” recently approved. The president Miguel Diaz-CanelAt the same time, he accused Washington of persisting with its blockade and “mercilessly harming the education system.” “Nothing will prevent schools from reopening,” he added defiantly.
Hours pass and Díaz-Canel is running out of ideas. The free and quality education promised by Fidel Castro, Ernesto “Che” Guevara and the other spokesmen of the revolution remains without basis in reality. The crisis and isolation that the island has suffered for a long time are now entering the most sensitive area of Cuban power.
