U.S. oil blockade jeopardizes Cuba's education, warns UNESCO

The United States' "energy blockade" against Cuba is placing the island's education system at significant risk, warned the UN's cultural organization, UNESCO. The sanctions have severely impacted the availability of fuel, leading to transportation challenges and widespread power outages, which in turn affect the presence of teachers and shorten school days.

Cuba, already under a U.S. commercial embargo since 1962, faces an intensified economic crisis. The threat of sanctions against countries supplying oil to Havana has exacerbated fuel scarcity. UNESCO's representative in Cuba, Anne Lemaistre, stated that these energy and transport limitations are worsening a national deficit of over 26,000 teachers.

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The energy and transport limitations affect the presence of teachers, worsening a national deficit of over 26,000 teachers.

In response, the Cuban government has implemented emergency measures, including reduced school hours and an advanced closure of the academic year. Approximately 400,000 students have experienced shortened educational schedules. Critically, about 28,000 students in their final years of study face a "critical" situation in completing their education, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, recent meteorological events have displaced 30% of children and adolescents, and over 870 schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa remain unrepaired.

UNESCO's regional office has cautioned that the current situation "puts at risk" Cuba's education and "endangers the future of an entire generation, with long-term consequences." The organization is collaborating with the Cuban Ministry of Education to assess the total instructional days lost due to the U.S. oil blockade.

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the current situation 'puts at risk' education in the island, and 'endangers the future of an entire generation, with long-term consequences.'