Cuba Ends School Year 2 Weeks Early, Scraps College Exams Amid Fuel Crisis
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 22
Cuba Ends School Year 2 Weeks Early, Scraps College Exams Amid Fuel Crisis
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 22
Summary
Cuba cut the school year short by two weeks and canceled college entrance exams for high school seniors as the fuel crisis disrupted classes nationwide.
February measures had already reduced schools to half-days and pushed college students back to Covid-era remote learning to conserve energy.
A U.S. oil blockade has deepened the energy shortage, leaving buses off the roads, teachers unable to reach classrooms and many children missing lessons.
Power outages and shortages of school meals have also worn down students and staff, underscoring how the transport and electricity crunch is spilling into basic public services.
As Cuba’s key services fail, what will be the fate of an entire generation being raised in this crisis?
Can Cuba's emergency plan to embrace solar energy realistically rescue its society from a total collapse?
A Generation Disrupted: Cuba’s 2026 School Shutdowns and the Human Cost of the Fuel Crisis
Overview
Cuba’s education system is in crisis after the early end of the school year and cancellation of university entrance exams, caused by a severe fuel shortage. This crisis stems from Cuba’s long-standing reliance on imported fuel, especially from Venezuela. When Venezuelan oil deliveries stopped abruptly in early 2026 after political upheaval, and the U.S. imposed a new oil blockade, Cuba’s fragile energy system collapsed. The resulting blackouts and service disruptions have deeply affected schools, healthcare, and daily life, putting an entire generation’s future at risk and pushing Cuban society toward a breaking point.