Cuba begins 2026-2027 school year amid resource shortages

More than 1.4 million students in Cuba have returned to classrooms for the 2026-2027 school year, involving over 10,000 institutions and 135,000 teachers. The start of the academic year occurs amidst significant socioeconomic challenges, including material shortages and logistical tensions in urban and interprovincial transport.

To address shortages in school uniforms, the Ministry of Commerce Interior has prioritized deliveries for preschool, fifth, and seventh-grade students. While the initial demand for the year was approximately 3.3 million units, production has been constrained by limited access to raw materials, financing, and electricity.

Confecciones Boga, a national manufacturer, reported that while they aimed to produce 279,500 prioritized uniforms, they faced difficulties importing necessary fabrics and accessories due to a lack of funding. To maintain production, the company has utilized home-based work with less automated machinery and shifted work hours to early morning periods when electrical services are restored.