Minister of Education Lucy Molinar has been summoned by Panama's National Assembly to provide concrete and documented answers about her educational management and the resources allocated to schools and programs. This is the third attempt by deputies to get explanations from the minister after her absence at two previous hearings on March 25 and April 8. Now she must appear on April 22. All answers must be supported by official documents. This is a key moment in the relationship between the Ministry of Education (Meduca) and the Assembly. Deputies approved her attendance at 9:00 a.m. in the Gallery Hall on the fifth floor of the new Assembly building. The summons was made under Article 49 of the National Assembly's Internal Regime Organic Law. The Commission has prepared a questionnaire of 15 main questions with sub-points on critical issues in the education system. Among the most pressing questions are: how will Meduca ensure equity when bidding $273 million for laptops, while many schools lack basic services and equipment; what measures will be implemented to ensure schools in remote areas have solar panels and maintenance of technological equipment; how will Meduca justify the reduction of the Special School Compensation Fund (FECE) from $150 to $60 per student, especially in the poorest townships; what plan exists for distributing the redesigned 2026 curriculum textbooks in areas without connectivity; what will be the strategy to compensate for the reduction in English class hours and prevent the widening of the educational gap. Deputies also question the prioritization of state-of-the-art technological equipment, while many schools still lack basic infrastructure, reliable electricity, and internet access, which are essential to guarantee educational equity. Regarding school feeding, the Commission is requesting information on transportation and food distribution in the poorest townships, as well as details on national milk production and inspection mechanisms to protect local producers. Additionally, a report is required on teachers separated from their positions, pending vacancies, delays in the bidding for school meals, and educational centers that did not start the 2026 school year, including the percentage of progress on works and delivery dates.
