http://elsiglo.com.pa/panama/presidente-cortizo-evalua-24-meses-escuela-virtual-tenia-otra-opcion/24195533

Cortizo recounted the challenges he faced in addition to the pandemic, and described vaccination as one of the best in Latin America and the Caribbean

In the traditional presidential tour for the start of classes, President Laurentino Cortizo, upon his arrival at the Concepción de Juan Díaz School, asked teachers to take care of their students’ spelling and to change orthodox teaching methods for ones far from memorization.

“Teachers and professors, today I ask you not to make our students memorize so much, teach them to think, work as a team to solve problems, that is the triangle of success, that they read and understand what they read,” he said.

Another of the points touched by the president, this Monday, March 7, is the maintenance of schools. Cortizo reminded the directors of schools that they have the Fund for Equity and Quality of Education (FECE), for the purchase of laboratory equipment, furniture, teaching materials, repair and maintenance of centers, as well as to strengthen nutritional programs.

“If you have difficulty using your funds, contact your regional directors. There are $69 million available for repairs and maintenance, unused. In addition, $18.1 million more have been added,” said the president.

“The most difficult but correct decision was to impose the quarantine measure, with an economy operating at a minimum. Also, I made the decision to close the schools, what a difficult decision, I had no other option.”

Cortizo recounted the challenges he faced in addition to the pandemic, and described vaccination as one of the best in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Today, March 7, after 24 months, we are returning to face-to-face classes with 82.95% of schools working,” added Cortizo, predicting that by March 18 there will be 86.01 schools open.

He said that there are educational centers under construction, with legal problems and others with audits.

He suggested to parents, “don’t delegate to teachers what you should do as mothers and fathers”