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Five months after the powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the eastern region of Cuba on November 10, 2024, more than 500 children from the Augusto César Sandino semi-residential school in the municipality of Pilón, Granma, are still attending classes under precarious conditions.
Despite the passage of time, the campaign classrooms remain their only space for learning, as they await the restoration of their school, which still does not have a defined date for reopening.
The students, from preschool to sixth grade, were relocated to an improvised camp at a nearby military base, which has been set up with tents donated by UNICEF.
This new educational center, named Amiguitos de las FAR, is the government's response to the structural damage suffered by the semi-internship building, which was constructed under the Girón system and was not designed to withstand major seismic movements.
Enrique Arango Arias, Head of the National Seismological Service of Cuba, who visited the area accompanied by representatives from UN agencies, shared on Facebook photos of the camps donated by UNICEF and of the school, which was severely damaged by the earthquake.
The restoration process of educational centers is taking longer than expected, and families still have to wait longer for their children to return to their original classrooms.
The leader Díaz-Canel visited the site in February and spoke with the children and workers, highlighting their efforts to educate the little ones on how to respond to potential seismic events, a particularly relevant topic following the earthquake.
However, Díaz-Canel avoided committing to a specific date for the restoration of the semi-internship Augusto César Sandino and suggested that the buildings affected by the earthquake could be used to shelter displaced families.
According to Amauri Torres Torres, the general director of Education in Pilón, the earthquakes also damaged 41 educational facilities in the region.
As of February, only 23 had been repaired, which left hundreds of children in very precarious educational conditions, relying on temporary spaces and limited resources.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Pilón continues to be the target of unfounded rumors, such as the supposed new earthquake that is expected in the area, which in recent days has caused unnecessary concern in the community.
Local authorities have called for calm, clarifying that these rumors are not scientifically based and are contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty in a region already impacted by tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Educational Situation in Pilón After the Earthquake
Why do the children of the Augusto César Sandino semi-institutional school have classes in tents?
The children of the Augusto César Sandino semi-board school are receiving classes in tents because the original building suffered significant structural damage due to a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Cuba in November 2024. Classes have been relocated to an improvised camp at a nearby military base, using tents donated by UNICEF as temporary classrooms.
How many educational institutions in Pilón were affected by the earthquakes?
The earthquakes damaged 41 educational institutions in Pilón, of which only 23 had been repaired by February 2025. This has left hundreds of children in precarious educational conditions, forcing them to rely on temporary spaces to continue their education.
What has been the Cuban government's response to the educational crisis in Pilón?
The Cuban government, through its leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, has visited the affected area, but so far it has not provided an exact date for the restoration of the damaged educational facilities. Authorities have set up tents as a temporary solution, although this measure has been criticized for its limited scope and the lack of attention to other affected communities.
What has sparked criticism regarding the government's response to those affected by the earthquakes in Pilón?
The main criticism of government assistance is that the focus has been limited and has not encompassed all affected communities. It has concentrated on specific areas, leaving other communities equally impacted by the earthquakes unprotected, which has caused discontent among the residents of Pilón.
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