Cardozo: Panama's Education Reform Must Be Free of Politics

Education reform must consider the entire system, as education has become highly politicized. It is hoped that we can move away from this scenario and adopt a comprehensive approach that spans from early childhood to university levels, said Cardozo in Telemetro's morning newscast. In this context, both private and public universities have emerged in a competitive environment, and this needs to be demystified because the state leverages private universities when it cannot provide education for everyone, according to Cardozo. He stated that on this issue, there are various processes, but no unifying thread, and emphasized that education has a common goal: to ensure that children and youth successfully enter the workforce. Juan Pablo Cardozo, president of the Association of Private Universities of Panama (Auppa), believes that the educational reform proposed by the current administration must remove politics from education and advocates for a flexible law that puts the student at the center. 'Panama must move beyond politics and create academic structures that evaluate whether the system in terms of quality and training meets the country's needs,' he stated. He mentioned that the total university market in Panama does not exceed 230,000 students, a figure he described as 'very low,' with 70% of them in public education. He lamented that there are now more 'ninis' (young people neither studying nor working) than university students, which he considers a 'giant crisis' not unique to Panama. Cardozo argued that one cannot assume that a new degree program can be developed in three years because, as he recalled, 'in that time, it will no longer be relevant.' 'We have told the executive branch and lawmakers that we need a flexible law that seriously places students at the forefront,' he pointed out. 'We have to think about creating faster degree programs with rigor and quality, allowing the system to evolve,' he opined. 'I feel we are drowning in thousands of reports, in reports on new degree programs, but if the laws do not change, we will not advance as a country and will be stuck in reports instead of educating these young people who want a job opportunity,' he expressed. 'This exercise on the table is urgent, and universities are willing to participate in building a comprehensive system that contributes to Panama,' he stated. According to Cardozo, higher education shapes students for life, as it includes different levels: vocational training, technical education, and professional education. 'This means that private education accounts for 30%, with 31 universities. It's like earning a master's degree in artificial intelligence in six months, which is a completely different world,' he said.