Panama to Purchase Laptops for $23.3 Million

1 thought on “Panama to Purchase Laptops for $23.3 Million”

1. When the children are taught to be more responsible with such “gifts” by their parents, then such technology may be beneficial.

   As a result of this, the government of Panama does not issue any textbooks to its public school students as such textbooks end
   up damaged, destroyed or sold. The “textbooks” that the students have are small notebook binders in which the students make
   themselves by hopefully copying everything down from the chalkboards that the teacher writes. Many students lack the industry
   and discipline to do this and waste their time and the taxpayer’s funds. For more than a few, public school is only an exercise in
   public childcare as the parents like the break away from their children.

   A good example of all this is the study of English in Panamanian public schools.

   For thirteen years, primary, secondary and high school, students are required to study English yet there is absolutely no standard
   of proficiency in learning this language vital for modern communication… particularly as it is absolutely necessary in the study of computer technology and online learning and surfing. This alone defeats the purpose of placing a computer into such hands which can later be “lost” and sold for additional family income. This is already a problem. Moreover, the parents frequently demean the study of English by stating to their children that there is no value in doing so. As a consequence, after thirteen years of English “instruction,” the students no more know this language than a trained parrot than to repeat a greeting and a phrase.

   This is why hundreds of jobs are not filled by Panamanian job seekers in the hospitality industry alone in job fairs in Panama City as
   the applicants preferred to be hired should have some working knowledge of English.

   Perhaps the most damning indictment of the Panamanian school student is the lack of desire to read. Most do not have any
   inclination or aptitude to do so. Of course, to invest in public libraries would be a great start, but then again, those who benefit from it
   need to realize their responsibility to return books and reference materials back to the library instead of confiscating them for whatever
   worth.

   With such an inadequate resource of this nation’s youth, it cannot meet the challenges in progressing past a third-world status.

   The people have only themselves to blame for their lack of vision and lack of responsibility in guiding their children to make opportunities
   to better themselves and their communities.

   This is where the real focus of education needs to be… the parents… as society here has failed to emphasize the future.

   Allan