The Cuban regime has once again placed the figure of Fidel Castro at the center of its educational propaganda just days before the start of the 2026-2027 school year, using the slogan “With Fidel in every classroom” while numerous families report that their children will return to classes amid power outages, food shortages, water difficulties, and a lack of school supplies.
The Ministry of Education of Cuba published this Wednesday the message "See you in the classrooms!" accompanied by the hashtags "#WithFidelInEveryClassroom", "#September1st", and "#StartOfSchoolYear".
The slogan aims to reclaim the legacy of the late leader in the Cuban educational system, but it provoked a very different reaction among users who took the opportunity to highlight the material conditions in which the school year will begin.
A mother was assertive in warning that she will not send her children if they do not have the necessary conditions to rest and eat: “If they don’t sleep well, they won’t go; if they don’t have snacks, they won’t go. I am the mother and the ultimate authority,” she wrote.
Another person highlighted an even more basic service: "Let's at least hope there is water so that the children can attend classes with proper hygiene."
There were also those who listed the shortcomings that, in their opinion, turn the optimism of the authorities into propaganda: "Without uniforms, backpacks, snacks, lunches, and in blackout, yet we see each other in the classrooms. They have no shame at all."
A netizen reacted ironically to the celebratory tone of the post: "Oh, how lovely... I hear the chirping of the birds fluttering around us joyfully and violins with a harmonious melody that intoxicate us with hope."
The slogan "With Fidel in every classroom" thus takes on an uncomfortable interpretation for the official discourse itself.
For critics of the regime, the political image of Fidel Castro will not be the only presence; the consequences of the system he led for decades will also be evident, reflected today in children who arrive at classrooms after nights marked by blackouts, families struggling to prepare a snack, and homes affected by water supply issues.
In recent days, while the regime has intensified the promotion of the new school year, criticism has also increased.
In this regard, several mothers openly stated that they will not send their children to school if there are no minimum conditions, with demands focused specifically on rest, nutrition, water, and electricity.
The discomfort contrasts with the speech of the Minister of Education, Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto, who recently stated that the start of classes on September 1st "will be a great celebration in Cuba", although she acknowledged the "difficult situation" the country is facing.
Families have been voicing the same concerns for days. Some mothers have pointed out that their children will not attend classes when power outages prevent them from sleeping properly.
Other Cubans reacted to the official announcement of the course by asking "With what electricity, with what water, with what snacks?", questioning why the authorities continue to present a start to classes that is influenced by the crisis as normal.
Also, in response to messages from Miguel Díaz-Canel about the school preparations, criticisms emerged that summarized the situation as “a lot of willingness and few conditions”.
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