Havana, Oct 23 (acn) Poor residents of the densely populated San Miguelito neighborhood crowded the local church to take part in the graduation ceremony, says a Granma newspaper's report. The literacy program is aimed at 188,000 Panamanians who, according to a recent census, are illiterate. It seeks to teach the first 40,000 by the end of this year and the rest by the end of 2008. Torrijos congratulated the students for their determination and dedication in setting aside two hours every day for seven weeks to leave behind the darkness of illiteracy. The president acknowledged the help and solidarity of Cuba, represented at the ceremony by Ambassador to Panama Carlos Garcia. "Solidarity is very important," said Torrijos, "because everything can't be bought or obtained with a checkbook; in addition, this helps to form good values in young people; as has been demonstrated by the young volunteers."

The Straits Times - PANAMA CITY - LEARNING Mandarin could soon be compulsory for schoolchildren in Panama to ready the Spanish-speaking nation for China's growing importance as a trading partner. Panama's National Assembly will next week debate a bill to make Mandarin Chinese lessons obligatory in all government-run primary schools in the trade-dependent canal nation. Mandarin is the official language of both China and Taiwan. Panama has no diplomatic relations with Beijing but China has major interests in its transport and shipping sectors. Arturo Arauz, who drafted the proposal, said it would help prepare Panama for a 'new linguistic order' prompted by spectacular economic growth in China. 'We cannot ignore that a lot of our trade is with Asia,' he said. 'In 20 years time the world is going to be a very different place.' Under the proposal, children aged between 6 and 11 would learn Mandarin for a trial period of 10 years. English would continue to be taught in schools as a second language. China is the main user of the Panama Canal, and the Hong Kong-based conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd controls Panama's two largest ports - Balboa on the Pacific coast and Manzanillo on the Caribbean. Panama has a sizable Chinese community, founded more than 100 years ago by immigrants who arrived to help build the Panama Canal, but many speak Cantonese Chinese rather than Mandarin. -- REUTERS

Pinar del Rio, Oct 8 (ACN) The documentary Nido de Cisnes (Swans Nest), by Jose Manuel Fernandez, with Producciones Villaverde, won the award to the best educational program at the 4th International Film Festival of Panama. The short-feature film shows events that date back to the 16th century when an expedition landed on the coast of Pinar del Rio on board a brigantine named Mantua, which was supposedly heading to the Americas. The actual objective of the trip and the social composition of members of its crew are unveiled in the documentary, while making an analysis of this polemic theme, why the ballet is moved by pure devotion. Nido de Cisnes competed with material presented by filmmakers from 21 countries, among which were Spain, France, Italy, United States, Argentina and Brazil. It was produced in 2004 by the young director Jose Manuel Fernandez with Villaverde productions, which seeks to bring to light the results of research on the different art expressions through documentaries. According to experts on the field, Villaverde productions reassess the modern concept of audiovisual communication through documentaries, as it plays the role of the spectator by establishing a direct dialogue with its creators. This is considered very important for its educational value. Panama's International Film Festival, which has the slogan "Latin Image and Sound in Panama," paid homage to renowned Cuban filmmaker Tomas Gutierrez Alea.

By Doreen Hemlock | South Florida Sun-Sentinel - Florida International University is starting a master's in business administration program in Panama to help train more professionals in Latin America's fastest-growing economy, Jose de la Torre, dean of FIU's business school announced Wednesday. The MBA for working professionals is set to start in April in Panama City's financial district and initially include 50 students. About one-third are expected from Panama's international banks and about one-third from multinational companies expanding in the Central American nation of 3 million people, de la Torre told a breakfast panel on Panama organized by Coral Gables-based media company WorldCity Inc. (more)

Xinhua - Panama will eradicate illiteracy in the country by 2009, Panamanian Social Development Minister Maria Roquebert announced Saturday. The Panamanian government has approved an extra budget of 300 million U.S. dollars for the illiteracy eradication plan that will help 5000 illiterates learn to read and write, Roquebert said while attending activities of the International Anti-illiteracy Day held on Sept. 8 every year. "This is a challenge for us as well as the whole of Panamanian society to eradicate illiteracy and allow all Panamanians to receive education," Roquebert added. Panama has a population of about three million, with around 168,000 illiterate people, most of them living in rural and minority regions, according to the latest statistics of Panama's auditing administration. But Roquebert said the actual number of illiterates in the country may be higher, as many as 189,000 people.

By Juan Limachi for La Critica - Canadian experts will train mechanics, technicians, welders and heavy equipment operators to satisfy the demand created by the construction of mega-projects in Panama, said Enoc Velasquez who is in charge of corporate relations of Durhan College. This Canadian College recently opened in Panama, at about the same time as the start of the expansion of the Panama Canal. Velasquez said the engineering training center will be installed in the City of Knowledge, and that the official opening will be on 10 September.

By Eliana Morales Gil for La Prensa - No school on Monday. More than 800,000 school children from both public and private schools will not be attending classes next Monday, 3 September 2007. On that day there will be events and ceremonies to commorate the official start of the construction of the Panama Canal Expansion project, as well as the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Torrijos-Carter treaty. The decision was confirmed by the General Director of Education of the Ministry of Education, Mirna de Crespo, who said that on Monday some 40,000 to 50,000 people will attend the ceremonial events. Former US President Jimmy Carter will attend as well as the President of El Salvador Antonio Saca, the President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega, and other important delegates from around Latin America.

Egovmonitor.com - The World Bank has approved additional financing in the amount of US$5 million to improve the quality of basic education in the poorest rural and urban communities of Panama. The loan will support the rehabilitation of schools, the expansion of early childhood education programs and the strengthening of the Ministry of Education managerial capacity. The objective of the additional loan will finance the costs associated with continued activities of this well-performing project. “This project will benefit children attending primary and secondary school, particularly those living in poor and remote areas,” said Jane Armitage, the World Bank’s Director for Central America. The project provides for upgrading, expansion, and renovation of run-down or inadequate school buildings to accommodate a growing number of students in primary and lower secondary schools. The loan will also finance school libraries, learning guides, bilingual textbooks for 37,000 indigenous children, and teacher training materials. (more)

By Urania Cecilia Molina for La Prensa - Public and private schools in Panama City and San Miguelito will be closed on Monday to celebrate the meeting of the Organization of American States in Panama. Panama's President Martin Torrijos announced the decision through an executive decree. (Editor's Comment: I just caught a statement from the Education Minister on the evening news confirming this announcement - all private and public schools are closed on Monday. He said it in such a way as to leave open the possibility of more school closings. They said this was to "celebrate" the opening of the OAS meetings here in Panama, but anytime they expect protests from the University of Panama or highschools they close the schools as a preventative measure.)

Who says geeky nature scientists can't have any fun? Was a helipad, now a canetoad derby racetrack. And did you catch the size of the crocodile swimming by the guys in the kayaks?