I get many emails asking about private schools from folks looking at Panama as a place to bring their families. With the advent of many multinational companies moving nto the country the number and quality of private schools has grown at a fast rate and so has the cost. In Boquete we have about a half dozen small private schools with one of the best being the International Acadamy of Boquete. They currently go from prekinder through the 5th grade and charge between $60 and $110 a month per student. My son attents and we are very impressed with the quality of education. The article below is translated from La Prensa.
Aet Elisa Tejera C.
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Digital libraries, storytelling, language laboratory classes, accommodations, clean showers at the gym, extensive grounds for the recess, computers for each student and teaching professionals with various specialties.
There are few schools that meet these characteristics in Panama, but this type of school is growing. Private education is going through a metamorphosis, is more varied, complete with international standards.
The growth of this circle is due to the arrival of a foreign population is increasing and at the right time for the local economy is going through, which makes it possible for more parents to invest up to $ 10 000 in a year of secondary education.
Schools such as the International School of Panama (ISP), Balboa Academy, Colegio Brader, Isaac Rabin, American Academy of Panama, Albert Einstein College. Lycee Francais as well as Paul Gauguin in Panama, Crossroads Christian Academy and the Metropolitan School of Panama (about to begin his first year), are one of the elite centers established in the country.
The strength of these schools is based on the teaching of two or three languages, based on English. In addition to Spanish, French, Mandarin and Hebrew.
The teaching method has nothing to do with repetition and memorization. A change is focused on analysis and creativity.
In addition, some of them are recognized internationally, facilitating the integration of students whose parents look for work on the need to constantly move from one country to another.
The quality of education and access to a variety of extracurricular activities play an important role. Exclusivity is another incentive. The high price guarantees comfort and social relations during the preparation process, are another attraction for parents to enroll their children in these schools.
High standard
A case of these is the International School of Panama, its graduates earn three titles: the one given by the Ministry of Education, an international baccalaureate diploma and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Having the international baccalaureate will not only allow students the opportunity to excel in college, but also acquire skills that will think globally and compete on par with students in the first world, said Linda La Pine, director of ISP .
Besides having a high prestige academic curriculum, its facilities will offer students alternatives to develop recreational activities. Basketball, soccer, tennis, amphitheaters, swimming pools, digital libraries and language centers.
In the educational estate of the City of Knowledge schools are Issac Rabin, Balboa Academy and the Metropolitan School of Panama, all governed by international standards.
U.S. Accredited Advanced ED (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools), the Balboa Academy allows its graduates to enter U.S. and European universities recognized.
"The vision of the school is to prepare students to compete in a globalized world," said Jean Lamb, director of the Balboa Academy.
This center is governed by the international calendar, which runs from August to June, an important factor for international students.
The Metropolitan School of Panama also work with the same schedule. "The goal of this new school in Panama is to develop best practices in education for students to reach their full potential for individual development," said Hugo Ramirez, a founding partner.
On the west side of the Canal in Panama Pacific Special Area in Howard, has installed a new academic offerings for the French community: the Lycée Francais Paul Gauguin in Panama.
Although most students are French, any Panamanian may choose to study at this campus that is born of a bilateral agreement on cultural cooperation, scientific and educational signed between France and Panama, said Piere Astier, director of the Lycee Francais Paul Gauguin.
Its curriculum is approved by the Ministry of Education of Panama and is modeled on the French Ministry of Education, which opens the doors to its graduates for direct entry to universities in France.
Parents also opt for private education because of lack of security that exists for students in public schools and service continuity.
In these private schools there is a diversity of languages, while public sector student fails the verb to be in learning English, said the mother Lisset Bathy.
Only 2.5% of students studying in the particular sector (108 000 144), go to these schools, considered the most expensive in the country.
Education figures
889 - Schools individuals.
108.144 - student enrollment.
20 - average students per class.
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