Full Breakdown
Cuba’s Special-Education Schools Struggle Amid Deepening Crisis
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Situation: Power Outages and Fuel Shortages Disrupt Teaching
On September 1, 2026, the new school year began in Havana under a severe economic crisis. By October 23, 2026, teachers at the Abel Santamaría School for the Blind were contending with daily power outages that often lasted more than 18 hours and a chronic shortage of fuel for transportation. President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials.
Adaptations by Schools
To keep classes running, the school reduced in-person instruction to four days per week, assigning home-based exercises for Fridays. Some special-education institutions have introduced limited virtual schooling and installed solar panels to offset unreliable electricity. At Abel Santamaría, teachers relocate activities to courtyards or hallways during blackouts to exploit natural light, a tactic highlighted by school director Suramis Rodríguez.
Data and Scale
- 44 blind or vision-impaired students remain enrolled at Abel Santamaría.
- 21 years of service marks the tenure of teacher-therapist Yarnelys Bec Abalela, who began at the school at age three.
- Fuel shortages have forced a reduction in transportation capacity, limiting daily attendance.
- The United States describes the fuel blockade as a nine-month measure aimed at pressuring Cuba’s government.
Official Responses
The United States government maintains that the blockade is necessary to upend a Cuban regime it characterizes as “inept and corrupt.”
Broader Impact
The combined effect of prolonged blackouts, fuel scarcity, and limited teaching resources threatens the quality of education for visually impaired children, who rely heavily on consistent, well-lit environments and specialized instruction. While schools improvise with solar energy and adjusted schedules, the ongoing shortages highlight the broader vulnerability of Cuba’s state-run education system amid sustained external sanctions.