Not for repeated year after year, the images of the return to classrooms in Cuba every beginning of September they cease to be new. It does not matter that they have already lived it many other times; for its protagonists —students, teachers, parents—, emotions always reappear, emerge, as if it were the first time.
Now, the return of classes has not been to start a new school year —with the exception of the province of Las Tunas, ahead of the rest of the Island—, but to restart the already underway since last march. The pandemic it disrupted teaching times and forced adjustments that are still in force.
Although today the situation of COVID-19 is different, —for good—, from that of a year ago, and most of the students have already been vaccinated, the effects of the disease still persist in the organization of the course, which Other challenges and difficulties are added, such as those derived from the current dengue outbreak, the economic crisis and the tense electrical energy situation that the country is going through and causes constant blackouts.
Even so, schools and universities reopen their doors this Monday. Nearly 1.7 million students in more than 10,000 educational centers return to the classroom to resume classes after the summer break, while university enrollment is around 280,000 students.
As for teachers, the Island has around 253,000 in its ranks for the current school year, which represents 97% of teaching coverage. In addition, the temporary hiring of university students was also planned to assume the role of professors, As reported the minister of the sector, Ena Elsa Velázquez.
The owner also explained that the new school uniform model it was already guaranteed for primary education, as well as the seventh, tenth grades and the first year of technical and professional education, while in the summer the sale to the remaining grades began. However, he recalled that the possibility of wearing the previous designs is still maintained at all educational levels.
The current course will end on November 19. Nine days later, the one corresponding to the 2022-2023 plan will start, which will culminate in July and it will not be until the next academic year, 2023-2024, that the island’s educational system will recover its traditional extension.
Then, surely, we will see images very similar to today’s throughout Cuba, such as those captured this morning in the capital by our photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez.
