First Lady Rejects Decision by Education Minister

La Critica - The Panamanian First Lady Vivian Fernández de Torrijos rejected a decision made by Panama's Education Minister Salvador Rodríguez to suspend contracts for the reconstruction of 70 "rancho" schools in various places around the country. The First Lady Vivian Fernández de Torrijos said the Education Minister should "better inform himself" before making a decision of this type, which affects the education of boys and girls from families with limited economic resources. In response Rodríguez justified the decision, saying it was taken to limit costs for these projects through a reduction of the costs of building materials. The wife of president Martin Torrijos argued that the increase in the prices of materials and logistical problems related to transporting these materials to areas that are difficult to access has caused an increase in the bottom line for costs of these kinds of projects. The reconstruction of these improvised educative centers form part of the project "Farm Schools for Quality Schools" being promoted by the Office of the First Lady.

Editor's Comment: In the interior of Panama, and especially in areas where roads don't reach, many children are educated in "rancho" schools - meaning structures build from wood and locally available materials. Usually these structures have dirt floors, thatched roofs, and no plumbing or electricity. There's usually an outhouse out back, and the kids are lucky if they have benches to sit on. The program being promoted by First Lady Vivian Fernández de Torrijos would fund the construction of 70 "real" buildings that would feature cement floors, cinder block walls, and tin roofs. Panamanians see the "rancho" schools as an embarrassment and a sign that the central government does not want to spend the money and resources to build better schools. I saw a television interview with Education Minister Salvador Rodríguez responding to this issue, and he said (basically) that "we can build two school rooms for the price of one" by using locally available materials. He's going to lose on this one, which will quickly become a political hot potato, especially in the interior and remote regions of the country.

Primera dama critica a ministro

REDACCIÓN | CRITICAENLINEA

La primera dama de la República, Vivian Fernández de Torrijos, rechazó la medida tomada por el ministro de Educación, Salvador Rodríguez, de suspender los contratos de reestructuración de 70 escuelas rancho en distintos puntos del país.

Fernández de Torrijos manifestó que el ministro debe ?informarse mejor? antes de tomar una medida de este tipo, que afecta la educación de niños y niñas provenientes de familias con escasos recursos económicos.

Por su parte, Rodríguez justificó esa medida diciendo que ésta se tomó para abaratar los cosos de esas obras mediante la reducción de los gastos en materiales.

Sin embargo, la esposa del presidente Martín Torrijos, argumentó que el aumento en los precios de los materiales y los problemas que se tienen para su acarreo, especialmente a áreas de difícil acceso, han influido en un alza en los gastos para esa clase de proyectos.

La reestructuración de esos centros educativos improvisados, formaban parte del proyecto "Escuelas rancho por escuelas dignas" que impulsa el Despacho de la Primera Dama.