According to official data, from April 2019 to March 2020 – before health emergency was declared in Cuba –blockade´s impacts on education sector reached over US$21 million.
Cuba´s report to be presented to the United Nations on June 23 to demand the lift of US blockade lays out that such a policy limits the country´s teaching and learning process at all educational levels.
Among main drawbacks, the report points out difficulties accessing international financing and impacts on fuel due to US sanctions on Cuba.
The document details that fuel shortage forced to readjust syllabus as well as school schedules in 52 educational centers, while 100 boarding schools had to extend the departure of students to their homes for up to 45 days.
Regarding higher education, blockade´s impact is easily seen fundamentally in difficulties accessing technology and equipment for teaching and scientific research.
The accumulated damages in a six-decade blockade exceed US$144 billion, and from April 2019 to March 2020 this unilateral and punitive policy caused losses of over US$5 billion, a record figure for just one year.
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