Just days before the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the uniform crisis is once again worrying Cuban families, this time due to the available sizes: an image shared on social media shows what appears to be an elementary school uniform with disproportionate dimensions, amid a shortage that will prevent most students from receiving new clothing this September.
An image posted in the Facebook group «ALAMAR- Zonas 23+24+25» shows a woman wearing what appears to be a Cuban primary school uniform for fifth grade (children aged 10), and although she is an adult, the clothes are oversized on her.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade acknowledged that the industry will only produce about 2.3 million garments of the 3.6 million that are required, according to data released in mid-August.
This means that nearly 80% of the student body will not receive a new uniform when classes start, a figure that the Minister of Education herself confirmed, admitting that only about 20% of students will have new school clothing this year.
The situation is worsening because this is the second consecutive year in which the State fails to ensure what is referred to as "continuity" — that is, the enrollment of those who were already registered the previous year — which forces a focus solely on preschool, fifth, and seventh grade.
In Ciego de Ávila, the authorities confirmed this prioritization and excluded continuing year students, with around 2,700 garments pending production as of August 20. The complaint of many parents was summarized in one question: "What about the other children?"
In Havana, the sales began with 62 units distributed across the 15 municipalities, but in the first phase, only families of fifth and seventh-grade students were allowed to buy, with a limit of one garment per student. The capital's government portal reported that the distribution started in a staggered manner, with a second item planned for a later stage.
In Matanzas, the municipalities of Limonar, Ciénaga de Zapata, and Los Arabos face greater challenges in distribution, while in Las Tunas, there has been a reported shortage of sizes four to ten, which are precisely the most sought after for preschool children.
The issue of sizes is recurring. In 2019 a size 44 uniform was given to a 12-year-old boy, a case that circulated widely on social media, and in 2024 there were again reports of clothing that did not fit the students.
For this course, the government has authorized tailoring services and workshops for size adjustments, which shows that receiving garments with incorrect measurements remains the norm.
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