In Panama, poverty and sexism are pushing women out of school. The 'My New Goal' program, launched by the Ministry of Social Development (Mides) in September 2025, aims to help adults, including the elderly, complete their primary education. Over a hundred people, mostly elderly women, benefit from this initiative. Marijulia Barría, the National Director of Literacy, explains that this phenomenon is due to socio-economic, cultural factors, and sexism. Many women, like Marcia Guerra, were forced to drop out of school in childhood due to poverty or to care for sick relatives. Today, at 73, Marcia proudly states that she can now read and write. Her motivation is to complete the sixth grade and help her grandchildren with their homework. Classes for adults are held in private homes by volunteers, as elderly people often feel ashamed to go to school with notebooks. 'I like the subjects, especially math... I want to get my sixth-grade certificate to see how we can move forward,' says Marcia. 'My adult children are delighted that I am studying now.'
