Broken Chalk has drafted the following report as a stakeholder contribution to the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review UPR for the Republic of Panama. As Broken Chalk’s focus is on combating human rights violations within the educational sphere, the contents of this report and the following recommendations will primarily focus on the right to education.
Panama’s education system includes 6 years of compulsory primary education (Education Primaria) for children aged 6 to 12. Secondary education is divided into two stages. The lower secondary stage is 3 years of compulsory middle education (Educación Primaria) from ages 12 to 15. After completing mandatory education, students aged 15 to 18 can proceed to upper secondary education, known as Educación Media. This stage provides two primary pathways: the Academic Track, which emphasises general education subjects to prepare students for higher education, and the Technical/Vocational Track, which offers specialised training in various trades and professions. i
The enrollment rate in Panama’s education system has improved significantly in recent years, particularly over the last decade, starting at the primary level. According to the data from the World Bank, the net enrolment rate for primary education means that 95% ii（2023） of Children in the 6-12 age group are enrolled in school. Middle education involves a gross rate of 83% （2021）iii of students within the age bracket of 13 to 15 years.
Despite all those regarding the quality of education, according to the PISA study (2023), 6 out of 10 15-year-old students do not understand what they read. One hundred seventeen thousand seven hundred ninety-nine children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 17 do not attend any educational center. Thirty percent of them drop out of school because they do not have an academic offer nearby (UNICEF Panama, 2023). iv Poverty and inequality are the primary challenges impacting access to and quality of education in Panama. Despite being a high Human Development Index country, Panama experiences significant disparities, particularly in education. The gaps are most pronounced in rural areas and among Indigenous communities, where students often face the necessity of working on the land.
Efforts have been made to close the gap. This year, 7% of the government’s expenditure on education, valued at $ 5.4 million, is allocated to the Minister of Education (MEDUCA), representing a decline of 11.9% from last year, according to the World Bankv. Despite the challenge posed by the National Plan for the Elimination of School Ranches (Plan Nacional de Eliminación de Ranchos Escolares), there are more than 400 aulas ranchos still to be eradicated.vi It is argued that it is impossible to eliminate due to the shortage of funds. Additionally, investment in infrastructure is much needed to provide clean water and facilities for students.
The government, in collaboration with multilateral agencies vii, is working together to promote and enhance the nation’s educational quality to a high level. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments have accelerated the integration of technology tools into the educational system. This includes the development of online learning platforms and the
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50th_Session_UN-UPR_PanamaReferences
i
ii https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.PRM.ENRR?locations=PA
iii Ibid.
iv https://www.unicef.org/panama/media/9646/file/Informe%20anual%20de%20UNICEF%20en%20Panamá%202023.pdf
v https://data.worldbank.org/country/panama
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