PANAMA: PRIVATE ORGANIZATION GIVES TO SCHOOL WHAT

UNCLAS PANAMA 001099 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PM PREL SOCI SUBJECT: PANAMA: PRIVATE ORGANIZATION GIVES TO SCHOOL WHAT GOP DOES NOT -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) The Santa Rosa School-- an impoverished public school in Ipeti, Darien Province-- inaugurated on June 15 its kindergarten and newly installed indoor plumbing, projects supported by the U.S.-based Panama Missions. The completion of these efforts was yet another success for the Embassy's People-to-People program that put an industrious teacher searching for assistance in touch with Panama Missions, who provided the necessary funding, supplies, and sweat equity for this project. EMBOFFs' visit to this school provided a snapshot of the state of public schools in rural and impoverished areas of Panama. End Summary. ¶2. (U) EMBOFFs visted the Santa Rosa School in Ipeti, Darien Province to celebrate the completion of a new kindergarten classroom and bathroom equipped with indoor plumbing and running water. The completion of this project was another success story for post's People-to People program, putting a Panamanian school in need with a U.S. charity willing to offer a helping hand. Panama Missions, a private, Christian charitable organization, provided about USD 2,500 and supplies for these construction projects, after an industrious teacher, tired of waiting for the GOP to filter limited resources down to this remote school, approached the director of the organization about fulfilling this need. The Embassy facilitated this contact. ¶3. (U) The Santa Rosa School is a public, government-funded school, but lacks adequate resources for upkeep and projects such as this one. The kindegarten through sixth grade school services an impoverished population of children from the province, where most homes lack electricity, indoor plumbing, and running water. A Ministry of Education facility, the Santa Rosa School often suffers from financial deprivation as teachers go weeks without pay and basic needs go unmet. In spite of Panama Missions' work, the school still has no electricity and will not have electricity until October. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: The condition of the Santa Rosa School is a symptom of a larger disease that afflicts the public schools in Panama, where funding and other resources are often not adequately provided, frequently poorly managed, and inadequately distributed. Corruption further contributes to the inadequate allocation and distribution of resources. Embassy Panama will continue to investigate issues related to education funding. LATTIMER