Story perspectives

Cuban special schools cut in-person classes to four days

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 2:56 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Cuban special-education schools cut in-person classes to four days weekly because of fuel shortages.
The United States says its nine-month fuel blockade aims to upend Cuba’s government.
The Abel Santamaría School for the Blind in Havana serves 44 blind or vision-impaired students.
On Fridays students complete teacher-assigned exercises at home under family supervision.
During 18-hour blackouts, teachers use daylight spaces and have added virtual lessons and solar panels.

History

Historical Context

In 1991 the Soviet Union’s collapse cut Cuba’s oil imports to about 10% of pre-1990 levels, sparking the “Special Period” in which GDP fell 35% and electricity for millions was cut. Decades later a nine-month U.S. fuel blockade has again forced the Abel Santamaría School for the Blind to reduce classes, echoing the earlier energy-scarcity crisis.

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Story summary

Cuban special-education schools cut in-person classes to four days weekly because of fuel shortages.
The United States says its nine-month fuel blockade aims to upend Cuba’s government.
The Abel Santamaría School for the Blind in Havana serves 44 blind or vision-impaired students.
On Fridays students complete teacher-assigned exercises at home under family supervision.
During 18-hour blackouts, teachers use daylight spaces and have added virtual lessons and solar panels.

1 / 2