Unachi students are demanding the resignation of Rector Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas, accusing the administration of mismanagement, nepotism and neglect. The clash adds pressure on a public university already under scrutiny for financial and institutional instability.
Panama’s first-trimester school break will run from June 1 to June 5, 2026, with the second trimester beginning on June 8. The short pause will shape family planning, travel, and school routines nationwide.
IFARHU has reminded students and guardians to check the 2026 General Scholarship Contest schedule and submit documents before the deadline. The process remains a key route to education support for families across Panama.
Ifarhu will pay pending 2025 scholarships and the first 2026 disbursement in Panama Centro from May 25 to 28 at Ciudad Deportiva Irving Saladino. Families must bring the required school and ID documents to collect cheques.
Panama is facing renewed pressure to fix an education system marked by inequality, weak labor-market alignment and persistent regional gaps. The central challenge now is turning reform ideas into a lasting national policy.
Panama’s education reform is being seen as a chance to expand school access through CEPROS, a long-running model that supports thousands of students. Advocates say legal recognition could help bring more stability, funding, and coverage to underserved communities.
Students and teachers at Unachi protested in Chiriquí to demand Rector Etelvina de Bonagas’ resignation and a technical meeting over the university’s financial crisis. The dispute highlights growing pressure on public higher education governance in Panama.
Panama’s Education Ministry has filed a new complaint over alleged fake diplomas used to win teaching posts, widening a crackdown on hiring fraud. The case adds pressure to restore transparency in public school recruitment.
Panama’s education leaders are pushing for a reform model that can outlast political cycles, with teacher training, evaluation and governance at the center of the debate. The discussions also highlighted deep learning gaps and the need for a modern legal framework.
UNACHI staff and students marched in Chiriquí demanding Rector Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas step down amid payroll, debt and budget concerns. The dispute has put Panama’s university oversight and public spending under fresh scrutiny.
Education experts warned that Panama’s school system is still marked by inequality, dropout rates and a growing disconnect with the labor market. They called for stronger teacher training, technical education and earlier support for children.
A call is growing for Panama to move ahead with the long-delayed new Faculty of Medicine at Ciudad de la Salud. The project has become a symbol of the country’s struggle to expand doctor training and respond to health worker shortages.
A school in El Chorrillo is testing Magrid, a 15-minute weekly tablet program designed to strengthen early cognitive skills in children from maternal to third grade. The pilot could help shape future Ministry of Education decisions on early learning tools.
UNACHI students are calling for Rector Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas to be removed as investigations deepen into alleged irregularities, degree homologations, and financial problems. The dispute is now affecting campus operations and the university’s ability to finish the academic year smoothly.
Panama’s rising concern over bullying is increasingly being framed as a mental health emergency, with specialists urging families and schools to act on early warning signs. National data and existing laws show the issue is both a public health and education challenge.
Panama has relaunched a multimillion-dollar plan to buy laptops for students, but the bigger question is whether the investment will improve learning. The debate now centers on evidence, costs, and whether schools need better infrastructure and support more urgently.
AI is pushing Panama’s universities to redesign teaching, evaluation, and academic policy. The shift is reshaping the role of professors and the skills students need for the job market.
ITSE has opened a public contest to appoint a new educational manager for the 2025-2029 term after the resignation of Milena Gómez. The selection process runs through June and includes academic, professional, interview, and essay evaluations.
Unachi students are calling for rector Etelvina Medianero de Bonagas to step aside during investigations into alleged administrative irregularities. The case has heightened concerns over transparency, payroll costs, and academic continuity at the public university.
ITSE has approved a new rulebook allowing reelection of its educational manager, while also keeping an open competition route and stricter merit-based requirements. The move follows recent tensions over leadership and governance at the technical institute.