BRIEFS: Education

School reform discussion almost over

The discussion of reforms to the curriculum of the country's secondary schools in entering the final stretch.

Universidad de Panamá Dean Gustavo García de Paredes, who is heading the committee examining the reforms, said that the next meeting will take place on Sept. 17. This will be the last time it discusses the proposals.

After this meeting, the changes will be delivered to the Ministerio de Educación (Meduca).

The dean said that representatives from numerous stakeholder groups, including the private sector, teachers' unions, parents and private schools have participated in the discussions.

On July 11, the Universidad de Panamá and the Universidad Tecnológica, in conjunction with Meduca, presented the proposed reforms to the public.

Proposed changes include increasing the length of classes from 40 minutes to 45 minutes and upping the number of hours each week a student attends school from 36 hours to 39 hours.

It also proposes reducing the number of high school subjects from 17 to seven.