In Cuba, parents like Yenicet have merged two classrooms for 54 first-graders after a teacher quit in February. During this week's school recess, they painted and repaired the room. The case highlights an unprecedented teacher shortage, worsened by recent economic pressures.
Yenicet, mother of a first-grader, said the teacher quit in February for private sector work, forcing the merger of two classrooms into one for 54 children. During the school recess week, parents painted the room and made minor repairs to give it a uniform look.
Cuba's teacher shortage is a long-standing issue but has reached unprecedented levels. Last September, the Education Ministry reported 85% coverage nationwide, planning to fill gaps with temporary contracts and load redistribution. Yet, the elimination of ration subsidies this month and President Donald Trump's oil blockade on January 28 have eroded teachers' purchasing power, prompting thousands of resignations amid inflation and low pay.
"It’s not just the salary. It’s the overload of more children without assistants, and being stuck at school all day," Yenicet said. Parents fund locks, lights, and weekly cleaning since no aides for over a year. Yenicet, who left teaching in 2017 for private work, noted only four of 21 pedagogy graduates from her Camagüey university remain in classrooms.
Education Minister Naima Ariatne Trujillo urged in September to normalize parent and municipal collaboration, which supplies fuel and food to schools. Mothers like Misleydis Betancourt described fixing daycare facilities and providing snacks. An anonymous mother from Ciego de Ávila spends 10,000 pesos every two weeks on music class travel amid energy crisis disruptions, despite a state salary under 6,000 pesos.
Rumors suggest authorities may end the school year early in late May to cut costs. The minister stated such a decision "should not affect the quality of the educational process."