Related videos:
The Russian language will be introduced as the first foreign language in schools in Cuba starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, marking a new sign of the Cuban regime's rapprochement with Russia.
The announcement was made by the Russian Ministry of Education following a bilateral meeting, during which it was agreed to expand educational cooperation between both governments, including areas such as technical training and the use of technologies in teaching.
The plan includes the expansion of programs such as Russian Teachers Abroad, through which Russian educators are already teaching in educational institutions in Havana, directly integrated into the Cuban system.
According to Diario de Cuba, this initiative is not limited to the academic field, but is part of a broader strategy of cultural influence by the Kremlin on the island, with projects that include the establishment of educational centers, joint development of materials, and the promotion of the Russian language in various spaces.
Currently, the program is being implemented in schools in the municipality of La Habana Vieja, and its extension to other provinces such as Santiago de Cuba and Matanzas is planned, focusing on levels deemed essential for language learning.
This movement occurs in parallel to the introduction of Chinese as an elective language in secondary education, reflecting the increasing dependence of the Cuban regime on its political allies.
Additionally, Moscow and Havana are advancing in joint projects such as the establishment of open education centers and the presence of Russian academic institutions on the island, consolidating that country's influence in the Cuban education system.
This line was also confirmed by the Russian portal Rambler, which presents the initiative as part of a broader educational and cultural strategy promoted by Moscow.
The agreement includes the sending of Russian teachers to Cuba and the expansion of language education centers, within a context of sustained coordination between both governments to strengthen their alliance amid international pressure on the island.
Another aspect of the plan includes Moscow's intention to export its educational model to other countries, including Cuba, as well as cultural training initiatives such as sending students to institutions in Russian territory.
According to the media Afisha Daily, language teaching spaces are already operating in several Cuban cities with the support of Russian institutions, reinforcing the direct presence of the Kremlin in the island's educational system.
In 2025, Russian media announced that Cuban television would begin broadcasting Russian language classes, a practice that had previously taken place in Cuba during the 70s and 80s, during the existence of the Soviet Union.
It was a project that began in the fall of 2023, in collaboration with the University of Havana, the A.S. Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, and Cuban television.
Previously, in 2024, the Federal University of the South (SFedU) of Russia announced that it was actively working on the opening of its branch in Havana, scheduled for the fall of that year.
Similarly, in 2020, the University of Havana inaugurated a language preparatory faculty, with a program that prioritized the teaching of the Russian language.
Filed under: