For the Ministry of Education, two times seven equals 13. The mathematical operation can be seen in the back of the notebooks what were distributed for free along with backpacks to more than 800,000 students in government schools. What's more, there are also spelling errors on the words "multiplication" and "conversion" where the accent was mistakenly placed over the "i" instead of the "o" where it should have been. Luis Lopez, the director of the Teaching Unit Coordinator, described the error as "unacceptable for students. I do not know if it was a human error or a printing error, but it left the Ministry of Education looking bad," he said. The mistake went unnoticed by some teachers. In fact, Lopez learned about the errors when El Siglo approached him for comment.

Some students have been guided by the table, and have put "13" as their response to the question "how much is 2 x 7." Now, teachers will have to go back and explain to all of the students that this is wrong, said Yadira Pino of the Veragüenses Educators Association. The correct answer is 14. The blue notebooks with the logos of the Ministry of Education and the National Government, were delivered to students starting on 28 February 2011 along with other school supplies, textbooks and bonuses of $20 to parents.

Aixa Gómez, leader of the Parents Association has reacted to the "horrible blunder" claiming there is no justification for the error. "MEDUCA should have checked this table," said Gomez, before sending the notebooks to be printed. "The lack seriousness," added Gomez. Businessman Juan Carlos Mastellari said "the company that printed the notebooks should be made to do them again as a way to redress the harm caused to public education students."

Avoiding Responsibility: A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education dodged responsibility by saying the mistake was the on the part of the National Assistance Program (PAN), which handled the bidding process, both for the backpacks as well as the notebooks. The government spent $40 million dollars this year on backpacks, notebooks and books. El Siglo contacted the PAN Century PAN but we were told its director, Giacomo Tamburrelli is the only person authorized to give statements and yesterday he was in an area of ​​difficult access inside the country. (El Siglo)

Parents of the children who attend school at El Paraíso in Mariato expressed their great joy over the inauguration of a new school building for the students, but at the same time there was also a lot of disappointment because the campus has no electrical connection, despite the fact that the power line passes within 15 meters of the site. Luzmila Pérez, a mother and resident of El Paraíso, said she was very happy because before the school had a thatched roof, with walls made of corrugated metal and sheets of plywood, and the children would get wet when it rained because there were leaks in the roof. Now they have a brand new school equipped with a zinc roof and concrete walls, which is very convenient for students. Likewise, Heredia Aparicio, who lives in El Paraíso, said that now they have a decent school where the children can study. Other projects - Meanwhile, Felicita Caballero, who has spent three years working at the El Paraíso school in Mariato, acknowledged that before the school was in poor condition, but thanks to the Ministry of Education, it was possible to build a new one. For his part, Juan Jose Castillo, the representative from Mariato, said that although the school is less than 15 meters from the power lines, the facilities do not have electricity. He said it falls to the Ministry of Education to make the arrangements for the electrical connections on campus. (Mi Diario)

Editor's Comment: In 2011, we're building a new school with no electricity? I can't believe that. It has to be that they wanted to turn the new building over as quickly as possible once it was done, and the electrical connection will happen, but it's just not been done yet. But if they did build a new school without including electricity in the plan (well, the old school didn't have it, right?) then someone should be instantly bitch-slapped... For now, I'm remaining optimistic.

Evaluate careers most in demand - The Ministry of Education, the private sector and representatives of public and private universities will evaluate what careers have the highest level of demand in the labor market. The objective is that within 5 to 10 years over 35 colleges will include them in their curricula, said Education Minister Lucy Molinar. (La Prensa)

The students of the Superior Institute of Aviation Albrook Flight School remain in limbo, while the authorities identify a center with a similar educational opportunities; costs and other considerations, said Mirna de Crespo, the Vice Minister of Education. Panama's First Anti Drug Prosecutor closed the Superior Institute of Aviation Albrook Flight School, after discovering it was being used as a front for drug trafficking with alleged links to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). With respect to the loans from the Institute for Training and Human Resources Development (IFARHU) it was learned that the students may apply for transfer to other flight schools. (Telemetro)

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About 800,000 students nationwide and 38,000 school teachers went to the 3,145 school campuses around the country this Monday morning to begin the 2011 school year. This year the Ministry of Education made some adjustments, such as the implementation of the quarters, which will allow students to receive more hours of classes. The first quarter begins on the 28th February and the last end on 23 December, according to Executive Decree 896 of October 25, 2010. The Ministry of Education will present today a bonus of $20 to parents to purchase uniforms and school supplies, as well as free text books. They will also distribute backpacks with school supplies, but staggered. Today they will be delivered in the Eastern part of the province of Panama, the areas of the Ngäbe Buglé, Embera and Kuna Yala, as well as in the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Darién, Colón, and Veraguas, as well as in the regions affected by the floods of last December. While in Western Panama and San Miguelito, the backpacks will be distributed after March 15, and in Chiriqui and Cocle they will be received after 15 April, and on 2 May the delivery plan moves to Herrera, Los Santos, and Panama city. It is expected that the president, Ricardo Martinelli and the Minister of Education, Lucy Molinar will attend the Bolivar Business Institute located on Avenida Mexico to chair a special act of the opening of the academic year. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: For the rest of us, the opening of the school year generally means traffic problems. Early in the morning when the kids are going to school and then again at about 2:00 pm when they are heading home. This week all of the kids, parents, and bus drivers are learning their routes and schedules, so there's a higher degree of "kluster" going on for anyone who has had any kind of a change of routine. After about the first week or so it all settles down into a routine.

Panama's Minister of Education Lucy Molinar said of the more than 700,000 students currently enrolled in the education system, an estimated 50,000 students failed from one to three subjects in the 2010 school year. Molinar said the subjects most often failed are mathematics, Spanish, and science. She said the final number of students might be a little lower, but unlike other years, students are taking classes in uniform for three weeks and they will sit for examinations. "Until last year, students received a lecture and the next day they took a test, thereby recovering an entire year," which she qualified as unreal. Students who failed subjects during the school year started summer school classes on 3 January for a period of three weeks, for the "rehabilitation of failed subjects" in classes held in different schools and sites established by the Ministry of Education. (Panama America)

Editor's Comment: In Panama school students of any age who fail to pass one, two, or three subjects during the regular school year can attend summer school sessions and bring their failing grades up to passing grades - providing they attend, learn the material, and pass an exam. If students fail four or more subjects they are held back, or if they fail to attend and pass the summer school school sessions they are also held back. Lucy Molinar is trying to pull the standards up - which should be applauded. Interestingly enough, the teachers have resisted her each and every step of the way - mostly because they don't want to be held accountable, and they don't want to have to learn or teach new or more difficult material. And finally, 50K kids in summer school out of a total 700K - that's a 7.14% knucklehead ratio - which sounds about right.

I recently noticed the Metropolitan School of Panama admissions office in Clayton, Panama and I am concerned about the land they are going to build on and lease from cuidad del saber. I checked the web site and it appears that they are going to build one to two schools in area which now has houses, baseball fields and tennis courts. The area is said to 5 to 6 hectares. My concern is not the school but the land chosen for the school. This land is one of the last parks and green areas in the reverted areas. I am disheartened to see that a portion of it will be developed since there are many other areas in the Cuidad del Saber confine that could be used instead. Alternative areas could include the huge fields out towards the old SCN building and the old motor pool area behind the Copa Airlines building. I would hate to see this school take over green areas that are used daily by residents and visitors. Do you have any information regarding this. I know that many residents and even non residents in Clayton are not pleased with this schools intended location.

Panama's Deputy Minister of Education, Mirna de Crespo said next year the school calender will begin on 28 February 2011 and will end on 23 December 2011. And, she said the school year would consist of three, three-month grading periods (trimesters.) The MEDUCA official said students will have two weeks of vacation during the year - one week between the first and second trimester, and another between the second and third trimester. (TVN Noticias)

Editor's Comment: This is one of the things the school teachers union was fighting against. Basically, this is a proposal that has been pushed by the Education Minister Lucy Molinar, in an effort to improve education by having kids spend an additional month in classes every year. Anyway, next year school starts on 28 Feb 2011 - make a note if you've got kids.

Panama improves its country ranking but education is one principal factor detracting from overall score. In the 2010 country rankings by the World Economic Council of Global Competiveness, Panama was ranked 53 out of 139 countries ranked. The positive was this was a jump of 6 places from the 2009 rankings wherein Panama was ranked 59. There are reasonable prospects if Panamanian economic indicators continue to improve - likely Panama will break the top 50 next year. The report examines a number of the "Pillars" (ie categories) of each economy, such as Institutions, Infrastructure, Macroeonomic environment, Labour market efficiencies, etc. There are a total of 12 categories and over 100 factors analysed and weighted to give a final score and ranking. (more)