New Education Minister Ventura Vega Sets Roadmap on Law, Technology and School Buildings
PANAMA CITY, August 14, 2026 – Industrial engineer Ventura Vega Osorio was appointed and sworn in on Wednesday as Panama new education minister by President Jose Raul Mulino, replacing Lucy Molinar, Metro Libre reported.
Vega thanked God and the president for the opportunity to serve on an issue that concerns everyone, and presented himself as a product of the public school system, recalling his time at the Escuela Normal de Santiago and later studies at Universidad Catolica Santa Maria La Antigua.
The new Meduca head put dialogue at the centre of his management and announced five priorities: a new National Education Law bill, pending school infrastructure work, keeping doors open to all sectors, strengthening technology in classrooms and securing support from international bodies.
He said the purchase of technology for teachers and students would be maintained, arguing that as artificial intelligence advances quickly, public school students must have the same conditions as private ones. On the technology tender, he said transparent specifications would be drawn up in consultation with the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama, the National Authority for Government Innovation and the business sector.
Vega, who served as secretary general of the Comptroller General office until January 2025 and previously led the ATTT, acted as vice minister of commerce and security and worked as a municipal treasurer, defended his administrative record. “Nobody studies to be a minister,” he said, adding that what is needed is the ability to listen, patience and a willingness to hold dialogue.
On the investigations into contracting begun under former minister Molinar, he said he would give full backing to the Public Ministry and the Comptroller General, stating that the ministry doors are open and that it will cooperate fully.
Facing an institution with more than 69,000 teaching and administrative staff, the minister said he would define his vice minister and management team next week, and that his immediate roadmap includes meetings with the 16 regional directorates and school visits across the country 704 corregimientos.
Why it matters
Meduca leadership changed in the middle of a procurement controversy, and the new minister sets the terms for schools, teachers and the technology tender.
What happens next
Vega says the vice minister and senior team will be named next week, followed by meetings with the regional directorates.
