PANAMA: EMBASSY INITIATES NEW OUT-REACH TO MUSLIM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001081 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI PM SUBJECT: PANAMA: EMBASSY INITIATES NEW OUT-REACH TO MUSLIM SCHOOL Classified By: POLCOUNS Brian R. Naranjo. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) EMBOFFs visited for the first time a traditional Muslim school (madrasa) in Aguadulce, Cocle Province on June ¶21. Representatives from the Embassy's Political and Public Diplomacy sections donated English-language books and discussed a possible opportunity for students to participate in a cultural exchange for Muslim students to visit Washington. (Note: The school requested English-language, not Arabic-language, books.) While the school bills itself as providing a traditional Muslim education as well as providing a secular education, EMBOFFs, who were warmly received, saw scant evidence that any meaningful secular education was indeed part of the curriculum. End summary. -------------- EMBOFFs Reach Out to Madrasa -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In its latest out-reach effort to Panama's Muslim community, EMBOFFs visited for the first time a madrasa in Aguadulce in Cocle province where they donated English-language books. Established seven years ago, the school has thirty-seven students and seven teachers (all male). Most of the students are second generation Gujarati Indian Sunni Muslims. The teachers are clerics, educated in India and England. Before the visit, the school's teachers told EMBOFFs that, although they emphasized teaching and learning about Islam, academic subjects like math and science were taught and highly regarded. They explained that half of the school day was spent on religious learning and the other half was spent on academic subjects. The school officials also told us that most of the children were between the ages of 12 and 18. ¶3. (SBU) Students and teachers were dressed in traditional Muslim clothing and were seated at low-level tables on the floor. Teachers told EMBOFFs on June 21 that the school was essentially a religious school where students memorized the Koran in its entirety, normally a two to three year task. The school contracted non-Muslims to teach academic subjects such as math one to two times per week. Teachers stated that once students finished this particular madrasa, they either went to the UK for further Islamic study if they came from more affluent families or to India if they came from more modest families. They also stated that students were able to obtain a certificate from the school and to pursue secular study at the University of Panama. Although we were originally told that the age range for boys in attendance was 12 to 18 years, one teacher told EMBOFFs that his son, who attended the school, was 10. Students, roomed 4-5 to a room, live at the madrasa for about 2 months before receiving 1 month of vacation. At the school, students have little contact with the outside world as there are no televisions or radios at the school. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) At first glance, it appears that only lip service is paid to the school's secular curriculum. Given the that the majority of their time is spent on Islamic studies, these students will have difficulty integrating into Panamanian society, if that is indeed their objective. EMBOFFs were warmly greeted by teachers and students, and post will continue to develop ties with this madrasa and the wider Panamanian Muslim community. EATON