The "El Cucalambé" Professional Art School, located in the province of Las Tunas, has an enrollment of 317 students, 46 of whom are boarders. Due to the current situation in the country, only 15 students remain at the school, while the rest are in their home municipalities and provinces. The institution has also reorganized its schedules and shortened the school day to 3:30 PM, aiming to maintain the quality of teaching and the artistic process despite the limitations.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Deputy Director Jorge Luis Vaz Fernández explained that priority has been given to the most vulnerable students. "We conducted a census to identify those who had the greatest difficulties and brought them to the school. Here they receive breakfast, lunch, dinner, and an afternoon snack according to our resources," he stated.
The vocational-level students were relocated to their home provinces, where they continue their studies, always with the support of their teachers, through online monitoring and coordination with local schools and cultural centers.
"Despite the difficulties, the school has not stopped its activities. Everything that was planned has been carried out, such as the activity dedicated to International Women's Day. Everything is being done here, exactly as planned," stated Vaz Fernández. Regarding food, he acknowledged that they have been forced to cook with firewood and conserve the little gas available, guaranteeing the bare minimum for the boarding students.
The assistant director also highlighted the commitment of the faculty and the governing board. "It is a school with very good results, and although the current conditions are complex, we continue working so that our students do not lose quality in their artistic and pedagogical training," he concluded.
The measures adopted, from the reorganization of schedules to the differentiated attention given to the most vulnerable students, reflect the commitment to not halting the educational process or the planned cultural activities. With this determination, the institution remains a cultural benchmark in Las Tunas, reaffirming that artistic education does not stop and that, even in difficult times, creativity and the teaching vocation find ways to flourish.
