This Friday, educational activities have been suspended throughout Cuba, a decision announced on social media by both the state-affiliated journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso and the Ministry of Education (MINED), albeit with differing explanations. Alonso, in a Facebook post, attributed the cancellation to the severe energy crisis affecting the nation, stating, "Classes are canceled nationwide this Friday due to the energy situation. The academic schedule will resume on Monday." This announcement follows the national broadcast appearance of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, who addressed the energy crisis on television on Thursday.
In contrast, a post on X by the MINED cited adverse weather conditions as the reason for the class suspension. "Due to the current weather conditions across the country, classes will restart on Monday," they mentioned in a brief tweet. The conflicting messages have quickly spread across social media, not only highlighting the class suspension but also shedding light on the Cuban government's communication failures.
The Cuban Electrical Union (UNE) took to Facebook to share the news of the class cancellations, aligning with the energy crisis explanation. "The MINED has decided to suspend educational activities from Friday through Sunday at all educational levels," they wrote, echoing the rationale provided by the state journalist.
Despite these announcements, the MINED's post on X continues to list weather as the cause for the school closures. Notably, the suspension does not apply to "daycare centers for working mothers." Additionally, boarding schools will maintain normal operations until further notice, although parents may request to take their children home, provided they do not leave unaccompanied.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz addressed the nation via radio and television to discuss Cuba's dire energy situation. Marrero attributed the energy shortfall primarily to fuel shortages, compounded by the deteriorating state of the electrical infrastructure and rising demand. He emphasized that the government's priority is to ensure residential power supply, even if it means halting economic activities.
Moreover, Marrero announced upcoming maintenance on two critical components of the electrical system, the Felton and Guiteras power plants, which could further complicate the short-term outlook. The authorities stressed that these measures aim to gradually ameliorate the situation, though they cautioned against expecting an immediate resolution.