The Cuban regime has once again turned schools into platforms for political propaganda. This time, children and adolescents have been mobilized to support a declaration backing the regime of Nicolás Maduro, in a campaign organized by the Ministry of Education in schools across the country.
The campaign, officially promoted by the Ministry of Education (MINED), is presented as an act of solidarity with Venezuela, but it is part of a national process for collecting signatures coordinated from the central government. Through social media posts, MINED specified that the initiative is taking place "in all provinces of the country from September 24 to 30."
"Our signatures will add to our express and unwavering solidarity with the legitimate President Nicolás Maduro, his people, and his government, who are subjected to one of the most infamous campaigns of the empire," they emphasized.
In one of the official publications from MINED, it is stated that "Cuban students and educators manifest their support for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," accompanied by the hashtags #CubaConVenezuela and #CubaMined.
The images shared on social media show people signing documents in support of the Venezuelan regime and teenagers in upper secondary schools.
At the Máximo Gómez Báez mixed center in Camagüey, more than 1,500 people signed the declaration promoted by the government. Twelfth-grade student Claudia Pérez Saladrigas stated, “Cuba stands with Venezuela,” while tenth-grade student Oliangel Cruz Sánchez asserted, “We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our rejection of the actions that, in an illegal and unjust manner, are undertaken by the government of Donald Trump.”
At the Tomás David Royo pre-university in Plaza de la Revolución (Havana), signature collection events also took place. According to what the institution published on its official Facebook page, students signed , which includes the phrase: “it is urgent to prevent a military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”
It was also reported that children participated in political activities. At the José Martí Primary School in the municipality of Ciro Redondo (Ciego de Ávila), a morning gathering was held in support of the Venezuelan people, as shown in a post by Aleida Delgado on social media. Although the children did not appear signing, they were present at the event.
The Cuban journalist José Raúl Gallego, for his part, has criticized the process on his Facebook profile, stating that “children and teenagers, the vast majority of whom have no understanding of what is happening in Venezuela, are being encouraged to sign a political position at events organized by the State.” He added that this represents “yet another example of the indoctrinating and instrumental nature of education in Cuba.”
These actions are part of a national political campaign. According to reports from official media, the Communist Party launched an initiative for the entire Cuban population to sign in support of Maduro. The Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee, Roberto Morales Ojeda, stated that upon concluding the process, “the books with the signatures will be sent directly to the Venezuelan leader” and it is expected that “millions of Cubans will endorse them.”
Frequently Asked Questions about the Signature Campaign in Cuba and Its Relation to Venezuela
Why are Cuban schools involved in the petition campaign in support of Maduro?
The Cuban regime is using schools as platforms for political propaganda, mobilizing children and teenagers to support a statement in favor of the government of Nicolás Maduro. This campaign is promoted by the Ministry of Education of Cuba and is part of a nationally coordinated process from the central power to show solidarity with the Venezuelan regime.
What does it mean for Cuban students to participate in these political activities?
Participating in these activities means for students to be involved in acts of support for Maduro's government, often without fully understanding the political implications. These actions are seen as an example of the indoctrinating and instrumental nature of education in Cuba, where students are encouraged to sign a politically orchestrated position by the State.
How does the international community respond to these propaganda campaigns in Cuba?
The international community, particularly human rights advocacy organizations, criticizes these practices as examples of social control and indoctrination. The actions of the Cuban regime are seen as mechanisms to demonstrate loyalty to the Party and the regime, rather than as genuine expressions of solidarity with Venezuela.
What is the objective of the Cuban regime in promoting this signature campaign?
The declared objective is to support the Declaration of the Revolutionary Government of Cuba, titled “It is urgent to prevent a military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.” In practice, these campaigns act as mechanisms of social control, where lack of participation can lead to sanctions or marginalization in workplaces or educational institutions.
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