The 2025-2026 school year began this Monday with enthusiasm throughout Cuba. In Las Tunas, it had a special note: in the town of Calixto, municipality of Majibacoa, the “Eliécer Botello” opened its doors as a semi-boarding school after undergoing renovations.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– The start of the school year was celebrated there, a symbol of the collective effort to ensure better learning and education conditions for the new generations. The highest authorities of the province, education directors, teachers, students, and families attended the event.

The excitement among the students was palpable. Evelyn Labrada Cardet, a fifth-grade pioneer, shared with 26 what this return to the classroom meant to her: “I was very eager to see my classmates and teachers again. I missed my school a lot, and now that it's nicer, I feel even more proud of studying here. I promise to work hard to get good grades and participate in all the activities. What I like most is that, now, we'll have more time to learn together and do new things.”

For her part, teacher Liliannis Gómez Borrego highlighted the staff's commitment. “We started the school year motivated to have a renovated school, which offers greater comfort to our students. We know there are still challenges regarding teacher coverage, but everyone's effort is tremendous. For us, every September is a rebirth. Seeing the children arrive in their impeccable uniforms, with smiles, and the desire to learn is the greatest reward.”

The enrollment in Las Tunas totals 78,397 students, distributed across different levels of education, from Early Childhood to Higher Education. To accommodate them, 671 educational institutions operate, supported by a staff of 12,042 teachers, representing 95 percent coverage. There is still a need for 604 teachers.

The activities at the "Eliécer Botello" school included the presentation of awards to outstanding students and educators. The event highlighted the role of the school as a cultural center for the community and emphasized the importance of beginning this stage with clear goals, both individual and collective, in a context of historical and patriotic motivations.