Ifarhu Resumes General Scholarship Contest in Panama for 2026

The Institute for the Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu) will resume in 2026 the General Scholarship Contest for primary, secondary, and official university students nationwide. The entity expects the participation of more than 400,000 young people. Director Carlos Godoy detailed that this year, programs have been divided to avoid system overload; in the coming weeks, the start date for the socioeconomic and disability scholarship contest will be announced. Godoy explained that to participate, primary, pre-secondary, secondary, and first-year students must have a minimum average of 4.5. For university students who are already enrolled and seek continuation scholarships, the academic index must be 2.0. After applying, the platform will provide students with an enrollment code to check their selection status, as a deadline extension is possible if more funds are secured for the three contests. Ifarhu currently has 50 million dollars to be distributed among the contest, socioeconomic, and disability scholarships. The application period will run from Monday, January 12, at 9:00 a.m. until January 23. Godoy noted that the selection process will be exclusively through the official platform www.ifarhu.gob.pa; however, in remote and hard-to-reach areas, it will be done through forms to ensure accessibility for those with internet issues. At the university level, priority will be given to high-demand careers such as sciences, technology, information, engineering, and the environment.