Cuba’s commitment to education continues to inspire
Campaign News | Thursday, 24 April 2025
CSC fringe at NEU Conference 2025
In the face of unrelenting attacks from the United States, which sees its teachers and students facing shortages and daily difficulties, Cuba and its commitment to education as a human right for all continues to inspire National Education Union (NEU) members. Niurka González Orbera, General Secretary of Cuba’s National Union of Education, Science, and Sports Workers (SNTECD), and Maria Nereyda Pena Cedeno (National Executive Member) were invited to the conference in Harrogate as guests of the union, demonstrating the depths of solidarity between the NEU and their colleagues in Cuba.
Members of the 2024 National Education Union (NEU) delegation shared their experiences of the visit at a busy fringe meeting. They spoke passionately about witnessing Cuba’s world-class education system, which remains free and accessible from early years to university, despite economic challenges imposed by the blockade.
Juliana Hall, a primary school teacher from East Northamptonshire, reflected on the visits to Cuban primary schools, noting how they form part of a wider community, “operating a nursery, providing free childcare for the children of teachers.”
Molly Gibson from Plymouth noted the stark contrast between Cuba’s commitment to the arts and music in education. “The knowledge and passion the Cubans feel towards the arts is infectious and should be shared and valued here in the UK,” she said.
Addressing teacher training and pedagogy, Rae Garvin from Tower Hamlets told attendees that “understanding and care are integral to effective teacher training and learning,” noting how teachers are able to take a day a week off to pursue training and development.
As a teaching assistant at a SEND school, Carmen Tracey-Ramos “found it really moving how people with special needs are treated and supported in Cuba at an individual and structural level.” She said her experiences showed her how Cuba, “despite the hardships caused by the blockade, treat their children with special needs with dignity and respect.”
Closing the delegation report-back, Shahzia Salim shared how Cuba’s educators and students have been impacted by the frequent blackouts plaguing the island due to the recent energy crisis. Like other speakers proudly wearing their keffiyehs, Shahzia also recalled meeting some of the 300 Palestinian medical students currently receiving free education in Havana.
NEU President Sarah Kilpatrick summed up the delegation’s feelings: “We had the most amazing time in Cuba and it has enriched us all. Solidarity with the Cuban people and solidarity with CSC.”
Niurka delivered a powerful speech, providing insight into the realities of teaching in Cuba. She explained how Cuban educators continue to innovate despite shortages caused by the blockade, including developing their own teaching materials and digital resources. She reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to developing “a truly inclusive education system which meets the needs of all Cubans.”
The fringe heard about the latest waves of attacks that the Trump administration has launched against Cuba, with Niurka detailing the seven new devastating measures already enacted in the past few months. Despite this, she said that “education remains an absolute priority for our government.”
Receiving a standing ovation, she thanked the NEU and all the delegates she has met over her many visits to NEU’s annual conference for their “warmth, hospitality and most importantly of all, solidarity” and wished her British colleagues the best in their fight for better conditions and a fairer future.
Mugwena Malueke and Anan Dana, international guests representing the South African and Palestinian education unions, attended the event, and CSC National Secretary Bernard Regan closed by highlighting Cuba’s commitment to the liberation struggles of both those nations over the years. Anan gifted Niurka and Maria with Palestinian scarves as a gesture of solidarity.
Chair Kevin Courtney implored all NEU members to apply for the 2025 delegation, to ensure their districts are affiliated to CSC and to continue building solidarity with the people of Cuba.
During the week, a number of previous delegates to Cuba received awards from the union and championed the value of the delegation and celebrated Cuba’s education system in their acceptance speeches to conference. Edel McInerney, who won the National Officer of the Year award described the 2024 delegation as “transformational”. She spoke of the “deep cultural respect for education, and for the role of teachers in shaping society”. In Cuba, Edel said, “teachers are not seen as disposable or as budget-line burdens, but as builders of the future.”
CSC also hosted its annual NEU social, featuring live music from the internationally renowned Omar Puente. Hundreds of delegates packed the venue at the Crown Hotel and Omar and his band had the crowd on their feet all night their fusion of Cuban and African rhythms, highlighting the very best of the island’s musical heritage. A fundraising raffle for the Cuba Vive appeal also raised nearly over £500, with winners taking home Cuban rum and a host of other prizes.
CSC joined a host of other organisations in holding a stall at conference all week. As well as raising funds for the campaign with the sale of Cuban goods and gifts, we spoke to hundreds of delegates from around the country about Cuba, the impact of the US blockade on the country and the many achievements of the Cuban education system. Visitors to the stall also heard about the work of CSC and the much-valued links between the campaign and their union, with many expressing a keen interest in applying for the next NEU delegation to Cuba in October 2025 and even more signing up as members of the campaign.
Niurka and Maria with Palestinian and South African education trade unionists
Cuban Salsa social night
CSC stall
