The University of Pinar del Río "Hermanos Saíz Montes de Oca" (UPR) announced this Friday the passing of Juana María Sánchez Pérez, a professor in the Preschool Education Department of the institution, in a statement published on its official Facebook page that triggered a wide wave of condolences among colleagues, former students, and friends.
"With deep sorrow, the university community mourns the passing of Juana María Sánchez Pérez, an extraordinary educator whose life was devoted to the noble mission of educating and shaping generations," stated the institution in its message.
UPR emphasized that Sánchez Pérez "dedicated many years to the education of early childhood, directed children’s institutions, and, from Higher Education, continued to share his knowledge and train professionals."
The statement emphasized that, throughout her academic career, the educator "distinguished herself through her scientific rigor, methodological approach, dedication to work, and fidelity to the principles that guided her life." The institution did not provide details regarding the cause or exact date of her passing, nor about the funeral arrangements.
The news came as a shock to those who knew her. A colleague wrote in the comments: "I am stunned by this news, I never knew she was ill, a great colleague, friendly, sociable, a true professional. I am so sorry, my condolences to her family, friends, and especially to her colleagues in the Preschool Education department."
Another internet user remembered her as "an excellent mother, wife, grandmother, and a remarkable partner," while a third person noted, "Wow, I can't believe we've lost Juana, an extraordinary person and friend; I remember her with deep affection in my guard team."
The loss adds to a series of deaths that has severely impacted the faculty of UPR throughout 2026. On October 13, the passing of engineer Elio Antonio Govea Rodríguez, founder of the Industrial Engineering program in Pinar del Río, was reported following a traffic accident. Days later, on October 15, Dr. Jorge Candelario Milián Domínguez, a Chemistry professor, passed away. In May, the institution had already mourned the death of Dr. Mayra Carmona González, former dean of Economic Sciences.
The passing of Sánchez Pérez occurs amidst a structural crisis that is affecting Cuban education. The 2026-2027 school year began on September 1 with a deficit of more than 20,000 teachers across the country. Teacher salaries, established by Resolution 18/2026 effective from July 1 of that year, range between 6,130 and 7,735 Cuban pesos per month, equivalent to less than 10 dollars at the informal exchange rate, far below a basic basket estimated at over 50,000 pesos.
To cover the deficit, the Ministry of Education has turned to university students, retired teachers who have returned to work, and professionals from other sectors, a measure that reflects the exhaustion of a system that is losing its most experienced educators—whether due to emigration, leaving the profession, or, as in this case, death—without any real capacity to replace them.
The UPR closed its message with a phrase that summarizes the magnitude of the loss: “Today, we are not only saying goodbye to a professor; we are saying goodbye to a woman who made education her life’s project and left a part of her soul in every task, in every generation, and in every heart she touched with her work.”
Please accept the heartfelt condolences of their family, colleagues, friends, and students.
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