The union leader Humberto Montero from the Independent Educators Front (Frenei) reported that the start of the 2025 school year in Panama is taking place amid precarious conditions in many schools across the country. According to Montero, with only a few days until the return to classes, serious infrastructure problems, a lack of materials, and inadequate conditions persist in numerous educational centers.
"Lack of maintenance and a culture of care," Montero emphasized, highlighting that, in addition to the lack of intervention in infrastructure, there is a cultural issue regarding the use of school facilities. In many schools, students damage bathrooms, faucets, doors, desks, and benches without any sanctions for those responsible. Montero stressed that it is necessary to foster a culture of belonging among students so that they care for the facilities and that parents take responsibility for the damage caused by their children.
Among the highlighted problems, the lack of equipment in computer, science, chemistry, biology, and English laboratories is also significant. Although maintenance is being carried out in some schools, Montero pointed out that there are not enough supplies inside. The Ombudsman's Office conducted a study in 3,102 schools in 2024 and detected problems in more than 490 of them.
Montero announced that a meeting will be held with the Minister of Education and her team to address 13 points raised by the teacher unions since last November. One of the key topics will be the payment of expired benefits to teachers. Additionally, clarification is expected on how many schools will be ready for the start of classes, how many will remain in rented premises, and how many will not be able to open their doors on the first day of classes.
Since last Friday, more than 2,000 teachers have been transferred to their respective schools. Some of them are located in hard-to-reach areas where the roads are impassable. Montero expressed concern about structures damaged by pests that do not meet the necessary quality standards. Educators are preparing for the return to classes with uncertainty about whether they will have the appropriate conditions to teach.
Montero also questioned the recent teacher training session, which lasted three weeks, mentioning that some educators attended under pressure. He also criticized the use of rented premises for teaching and the construction of modular classrooms in poor condition. In this regard, measures are expected to be taken to ensure the adequacy of educational facilities in order to provide quality education.
