In an effort to keep promoting the Spanish language amongst the community of New Boquete Residents and to also say THANK YOU for allowing us to teach many of you Spanish during the last 5 years we will be giving away FREE Spanish lessons! Reaching the 5 year milestone of teaching Spanish in Panama hasn’t been easy at all. There were many circumstances and occasions in which we could have failed… but there is one thing that is very true: we wouldn't have become Panama’s top Spanish school without the support of our wonderful community of Boquete, Panama! And this is why 5 lucky Boquete residents will be able to win a package of FREE Spanish classes @ Habla Ya!

How? Very easy: just follow these two simple steps:

• 1. Post a comment on our blog (click here) telling us how learning or improving your Spanish will make your life a lot better
  
  

• 2. Join our 5 year anniversary celebration this Saturday August 28th starting at 3 p.m. at Los Establos Plaza where the winners will be announced

And if you can’t join us, not all hope is lost! On the day of the party, this Saturday August 28th (from 3 p.m. onwards at Los Establos Plaza), we will also be announcing our yearly special that will be running through the entire month of September. Contrary to last years, this year’s special will also be open to New Residents all over Panama.

And what exactly could you win? We will be giving away 5 packages of group lessons for the following amount of hours:

• • 2 packages of 20 hours of group lessons

• • 2 packages of 30 hours of group lessons

• • 1 package of 60 hours of group lessons

The normal value of 60 hours of group lessons for Boquete residents is $500 so it is definitively worth it. For MORE DETAILS and to PARTICIPATE please visit: www.hablayapanama.com/5years. So looking forward to seeing you this Saturday: LEARN SPANISH PANAMA TODAY!   

Nivia Roxana Castrellon, of the Union of Private Education Centers, said there is no reason for schools to charge an additional monthly fee to parents because of the recent decision by the Ministry of Education to lengthen the school year, and to begin in the month of February. "No one should have to pay an additional fee to these private schools," said Castrellón in the morning newscast Telemetro channel 13. Castrellón explained that private schools do not charge based on a monthly fee, but rather based on an annual feel that is divided into monthly installments for the convenience of the parent, so there is no reason for an increase, excluding other factors such as a pay increase for teachers. However, Castrellon emphasized that in all of the commitments made through the various dialogs about transforming education, there has been talk of extending both the school day and the school calendar year. (Panama America)    

With more than 20 votes in favor, the Academic Council of the University of Panama approved the suspension of one year without pay, of Professor Jaime Turner, who has worked at the University for 35 years teaching the courses of Applied Physiology and Human Biometry. The Council suspended Turner for writing an Opinion article that was published in the La Estrella newspaper which lambasted the management of University Dean Gustavo García de Paredes, a week after the adoption of a referendum held at the university which passed, and which now allows for Dean Garcia De Paredes to run for reelection and a fourth term in office. La Prensa tried to contact Garcia De Paredes for a statement but he refused, and questions were delegated to the academic secretary, Miguel Angel Candanedo. "The Council decided to suspend Professor Turner for one year. The second half of 2010 and the first half of next year," he said. Candanedo said the Council adopted the measure due to the "insulting and disrespectful statements made in the media by Professor Turner whose veracity could not be verified before the Disciplinary Commission." At press time, Professor Turner said he had not yet been notified of the action, but that he was not surprised. 'It is a chronicle of foretold death for being in opposition to the interests of the Dean," he said.

REACTIONS - 'This action removes the "critical spirit" from the University, shows a violation of freedom of expression, and exposes the dictatorial system implemented by the Rector and his personal patronage', said Marcos Castillo, a former president of the National Association of Journalists. Ricardo Lombana, the President of the Ethics Committee of the National Council of Journalism, agrees with Castillo. He said he does not have much information about what happened, but said: "to take administrative action against someone, in reprisal for something they said, could be a restriction on the freedom of expression." (La Estrella)

Editor's Comment: The University of Panama is all screwed up, and this is just one example of why. I would hope this professor has some other route or avenue he can take to appeal this decision - outside of a chain of command controlled by the very person he's criticizing. Like, is it even legal for them to suspend the guy without pay for a year simply because he voiced his opinion? And this at a university of higher learning where student should be taught to challenge what they hear? In my opinion this is just one more reason why Gustavo García de Paredes should be replaced. The organization he runs is corrupt, and this kind of thing exposes the university and Gustavo García de Paredes for the dictator that he is. However, it's political and there's an election coming up. Hopefully the people who have a vote and a voice will toss his ass out. But, I doubt it. He's the "Hugo Chavez" of the University of Panama - entrenched for life until he's dead.   

Despite not having the support of students at the University of Panama, the present Dean Gustavo García de Paredes has cleared the way to run for reelection. In the referendum, held yesterday, the "Yes" won with the votes of teachers and administrators. Preliminary figures available at press time, with 61 polling stations reporting, showed that 6,420 students had voted. Of those, 3,116 voted "yes" and 3,238 voted "no." But this decision was not enough against the 514 teachers and 754 administrative staff members who voted in favor of reelection. Another 401 teachers and 272 administrative staff members rejected the reforms. Despite this numerical difference, thanks to the way the votes are weighted, which gives 33% weight each to students, professors, and staff - the present Dean can now run for a fourth term in office. It was learned that in the faculties of Law, Social Communication, Dentistry and Medicine, the "No" vote won. With these results, the academic community approved the reforms to Article 34 of Law 24, to favor García de Paredes.

IRREGULARITIES - Voting took place amid allegations of irregularities. From the early hours of the morning, Eduardo Flores, a member of the Coordinating Committee for "No" To Reelection, reported there was campaigning because fliers were being handed out on Tuesday, and the his signature and the signatures of Dorindo Cortez and Julio Berrío were scanned and used to disseminate false information. Flores said these ads said that if the "No" vote won it would "raise the cost of tuition ... and cause the closure of such degrees as History, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Sociology," and all of that is false, he said. Another person who lodged a complaint was Modesto Pascacio, who said Dean Armando Grimaldo, of the Faculty of Business Administration and Accounting, had eliminated him from the system. "When I went to pay my tuition and then later went to the polls to vote, it appears that I do not exist," he said. (El Siglo)

Editor's Comment: Gustavo García de Paredes has been the Dean of the University of Panama since before electricity was invented. The referendum held yesterday was to allow for him to run for an unprecedented fourth term in office. The referendum was needed because otherwise, he would have been blocked from running. Now, he can participate in the election. His opponents primarily want to get some new blood, or at least somebody with a pulse, in the position.   

I had 10 vacation days left and I was wondering what to do with them. Bored of the same thing everytime: beach, big resort, all you can drink, eat until you burst, pass out, fly back home... I was in search of new horizons. I needed something different, that would allow me to really get to know the place's culture. Meaningful, yet exciting... and even better if I could gain a skill. So I streamed through my friend's photo albums on facebook to see what they've been up to during the last years and this led me to Habla Ya's photo album on Facebook and I said to myself: these people really know what it's about! I'm going on a Panama Vacation to learn Spanish! (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (1,503 words)

Panama's Education Minister Lucy Molinar said she will form a commission to rewrite the history of the years of military dictatorship in the country. This came following a request made by the president, Ricardo Martinelli, during a ceremony where he officially asked forgiveness from the victims of the military dictatorship. "There is a part of our history that is not being studied and we need to start studying it, we must include it in the most subjective and dispassionate manner possible, inside of what happened," said Molinar. The minister explained that to this end she would appoint a commission of experts to examine the issue, which will be addressed in the correct "language and content." (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: Can you believe that currently, Panamanian history books do not contain any mention of the 21 years of military dictatorship this country lived through?    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The biggest headlines this morning are all about a one-day walkout called for by several teacher's union leaders for public schools in Panama. On the morning news today Panama's Minster of Education Lucy Molinar has said repeatedly that today is a "normal day of classes" and that all students and teacher are expected to report to their positions. The debate is over reforms that have been made to the national school curriculum, and how those changes have been implemented. Some teachers, not the majority, are opposed. For the most part students and parents seem to support the new curriculum. The protesting teachers are fighting an uphill battle, and here's some of the reasons why.

Cuts In History: For example, the time spent on history has basically been cut in half. Today I was told of one history teacher who used to teach 24 one hour long history classes at his school every week, and how that has been reduced down to 12 classes a week. However the school still has eight history teachers on staff when they only really need four. The new curriculum includes new materials that were never there before, such as Ethics. These new materials take up the space that used to be filled with things like history. So what is this (now underemployed) history teacher doing with this spare time? He can't leave the school grounds, so basically he just sits there all day long. Obviously he's concerned about his future, as he should be. But who has the problem, him, or the school system?

Late Implementation: The Ministry of Education implemented these changes to the curriculum at the last minute, about a week before the start of the school year. Teachers were not given very much time to absorb and prepare for the new demands, and they are chaffing against that.

"...is another man's opportunity." While some see these changes as a negative, there are other teachers who fully support the changes. They want to be able to modernize their materials and methods, mostly because they are genuinely concerned over doing whatever is best for the students. It seems like those teachers who are protesting are most worried about themselves and their jobs. They don't like the idea that they will be forced to learn new materials. Basically, they are being lazy. However there are others waiting in the wings who are more than willing to step up, and they see this as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Union Organizers: Thank you, Hugo Chavez. There are a large number of "organizers" out there who are really nothing more than paid mouth pieces for extreme left wing organizations in Latin America, mostly coming from Cuba and Venezuela. These people look for and seek out any discontent anywhere they can find it, and they use this discontent to attempt to "fan the flames" of revolution or something. As long as they can consistently get themselves on the news, the money keeps flowing. So, in this case there are a handful of pissed off teachers, and a handful of people willing to take advantage of and exploit the situation. In the end those teachers who don't show up for work will eventually have their pay docked, and when it comes time to eliminate the four history teachers who are no longer required, what list do you think they are going to use to make the cuts?

70% Failure Rate: I remember seeing not too long ago that most of the students applying to attend the University of Panama failed the admittance exam. I seem to remember the number 70% but I'm not too sure about that one - I know it was high. Anyway, there's no doubt about it, the Panamanian public school system is failing the students, and changes are needed. Hey, as long as they are not stealing the money then whatever they are doing will likely be an improvement. I don't expect this protest will turn into anything genuine, massive, or nationwide. It lacks the genuine fundamental elements required for long life.

Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Panama's Minister for Education Lucy Molinar was emphatic in declaring that Monday, 12 April 2010, will be a normal day of classes. Molinar was responding to an announcement made yesterday, Wednesday, 7 April, by the Association of Professors of the Republic of Panama (ASOPROFAR), who threatened to strike on that date. In this regard, the minister regretted that since the first day of this school year a small group of teachers has done nothing but make calls for "work stoppages, strikes, threats, and ultimatums." While speaking via telephone this morning to the TVN Channel 2 morning news broadcast, Molinar reiterated that the Ministry of Education (Meduca) is working to improve the system. Moreover, she said the official reiterated that from now on Meduca will accept the concerns of teachers who oppose changes to the public school curriculum and who submit those concerns in writing. According to Molinar, this measure comes after the meetings they held between education authorities and teachers union leaders bore no fruit, and that the union leaders only wanted to stop the changes to the public school curriculum. The ASOPROFAR justified their call for a work stoppage as a measure of protest against the "imposition" of changes to the school curricular. (La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: And why do a small number of public school teachers oppose efforts to update the public school curriculum so strongly? Because they would have to get off of their fat asses and learn something new. With the implementation of these changes, the teachers who have been spouting the same old outdated crap for thirty years will now be forced to attend additional training and seminars, so they can be up to speed on the new material. They will also have to attend training and education during the summer months when they have gotten well accustomed to sitting around and doing nothing. And who is leading the lazy? A small group of communists who are taking money from the likes of Hugo Chavez to stir discontent. A very small and vocal group can get on television and rant, and most of the time the general public only hears the ranting, and never takes the time to actually figure it out, to listen to what each side is saying, to determine their motivations and biases, and determine the "why" behind their positions. In the case of these teachers, it's a combination of the lazy who are allowing themselves to be represented by people who have the political motivation to champion any cause, just for the publicity. And this crap makes national headlines. Sheesh.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received today via email: "Hi. I'm a parent of two children with a Panamanian woman. Talks are beginning re: my daughter (who's a very precocious 4.5) going to panama in may with her grandmother. I would prefer to have my daughter in school, or social environment akin to camp, while she is there. I don't think its in her best interests to be a busybody little girl and run her grandparents ragged. Her grandmother lives in Brisas Del Golf. I saw ISP however thats not affordable in the least. I haven't gotten a number at the ministry of education, and don't know where to look. ANY info would be extremely helpful sir. Rob."

Can anyone provide information on the schools and options available for a 4.5 year old in the area of Brisas del Golf? Please put into comments. Thanks.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

"We will not stop." Panama's Education Minister, Lucy Molinar, said she has no intention of stopping her plans to overhaul the national eduction curriculum, although leaders of teachers' unions established a deadline of 5 April to stop. Molinar said "we have to abandon these methods", regarding the statements of the union leaders. On Friday, Andrés Rodríguez challenged both the Minister and Deputy Minister Mirna Crespo to take a lie detector test. Molinar pointed to her recent participation in an international forum, where once again it was demonstrated that the region of Latin America is making progress in the education sector, while Panama remains behind. With regard to visits being made by teachers union leaders to public schools where the new curriculum is being implemented, Molinar said there should be no unrest. She also said they are keeping close track of teacher attendance, and those teachers who do not report to work will not be paid. She went on to say this has always been the case. (Source - Telemetro Reporta)

Editor's Comment: This power struggle between a handful of rebel public school teachers (who are not in the majority) and the Minister of Education has been going on for decades. These same people - who bill themselves as being teachers union leaders - are simply another group of perennial trouble makers who come back time and time again, like a bad burrito. This time they are complaining over efforts being made by the Ministry of Education to modernize the public school curriculum, mostly because they are lazy and they don't want to be forced to learn new stuff (so they can teach it to the kids.) My position on this one is easy. In every classroom there is just one teacher and about 30 kids - so the government should be doing whatever is best for the kids and their (voting) parents will back it up when push comes to shove. Once again, public policy through doing what's the best for the most = staying in power. However, this whole thing could come to a head on or about 5 April 2010, when the "deadline" hits.