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More than 40 Cuban university students voiced their concerns to the Minister of Higher Education, Walter Baluja, regarding the deterioration of academic conditions due to the crisis in the country, but they did not receive concrete responses.
According to a report by the agency EFE, the meeting took place following a peaceful protest that occurred days earlier at the steps of the University of Havana, where students expressed their dissatisfaction with the hybrid learning model amid blackouts.
After more than two hours of closed-door discussions with academic authorities, including Rector Miriam Nicado García, the students expressed their frustration over the lack of solutions and questioned the role of the official Student University Federation, feeling unrepresented.
Among the proposals put forward, the young people suggested holding a consultation to decide whether to suspend the semester due to difficulties with electricity supply, internet connection, and transportation.
Student unrest has intensified in the context of an energy crisis that severely impacts academic life. The lack of electricity and connectivity limits access to virtual classes and the submission of assignments, which many consider unsustainable for continuing the course.
Tensions have been building since 2025, when students protested against the internet rate increase by Etecsa, which undermined their trust in university institutions and their representative organizations.
The recent sit-in on March 9 at the University of Havana highlighted the growing discontent, which is also spreading to other institutions such as CUJAE and the University of Computer Sciences.
The situation is worsened by the prolonged blackouts affecting the country, including a new nationwide power outage that occurred this Monday, which increases the pressure on the educational system and the discontent among university students.
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