Cuba: Millions of students return to classrooms in Cuba amid economic challenges.

SHOTLIST: HAVANA, CUBA (SEPT. 1, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL YARDS 2. STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS (TWO SHOTS)HAVANA, CUBA - SEPT. 1, 2026: More than 1.4 million students across all levels of education returned to classrooms in Cuba on Tuesday, Sept. 1, as the new academic year began amid challenging economic circumstances. The new school year mobilized more than 135,000 teachers in general education, while Cuba's sports education system welcomed 13,350 students into Schools for Sports Initiation. Education Minister Naima Trujillo said the start of the academic year represented an extraordinary effort by the country given the current circumstances. Cuba’s economy has contracted by 15% since President Miguel Diaz-Canel took office, according to figures cited by Folha de S.Paulo. The country has also faced prolonged power outages and fuel shortages amid the deepening crisis. Diaz-Canel defended a package of 176 economic measures approved by Cuba’s parliament in June, saying the reforms aim to strengthen the country’s socialist economic model. The measures expand the role of private businesses and foreign investment, but he rejected claims that they represent a shift toward capitalism.