The approach of the new school year once again presents many Cuban families with a troubling question: how to obtain a backpack, shoes, uniform, and even a basic snack for their children amidst scarcity and high prices.
Concern was brought to light in an anonymous post shared in the Facebook group “Madres Cubanas Luchadoras” 2, where a mother encapsulated the daily struggle of many women in Cuba: “Hello, what are we going to do, the moms who cannot buy backpacks and shoes for our children, and what about snacks when there isn’t even bread with oil because there’s not enough to eat, what will we have left to buy school supplies?”
The reactions quickly multiplied, revealing a mix of anguish, resignation, and anger.
It's sad what we're experiencing, wrote one person. Another was more blunt: "It's not easy."
Several mothers reported that they haven't even been able to buy the most basic necessities. "I have two students and I couldn't even buy a backpack or shoes," lamented one user, while another admitted that her children will have to go "with the same things from last year" because she can't afford new items.
A large number of comments agreed that the problem is no longer limited to school supplies or footwear, but now extends to daily food. "It's not just the backpack and shoes... It's the lack of nutrition and the poor nights," noted one of the participants.
Another woman commented that she tries to ensure at least food for her children, but she doesn't know how to solve the rest: "Let the government take care of the school; right now they're going around saying everything is ready and putting on a big show."
Radical views also emerged. Some mothers said that they prefer not to send their children to classes rather than expose them to further hardships.
"As long as we keep sending our children to school, they will continue to be abused. Not sending them to school is the best option," wrote an internet user.
Another person expressed: “Honestly, I don’t take them to school because after spending a rough night with the heat, with mosquitoes, and on top of that being hungry, and seeing other kids eat, no.”
Other opinions reflected the lack of real alternatives for those who work and have no one to leave their children with. "Mine goes with what it has because I have to work," commented a mother.
The discomfort arises in a context where doubts are growing about what children will be able to bring as snacks to school, a concern heightened by the rising prices even of modest options like bread with oil.
This is compounded by the crisis regarding uniforms, evident in cases such as Ciego de Ávila, where only preschool, fifth, and seventh grades will be prioritized, leaving many continuing students without them.
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