All Posts in Category: Education

At the beginning of June, all across the US kids finished school for summer break. In Canada, they are finishing this week. But here in Panama, while the international schools tend to follow the US schedule, the local schools have a completely different academic year. They start at the end of February and end in mid-December meaning that the children have their summer break through the dry/summer season here (which makes total sense!). If you’re a family interested in a move to Panama, visiting while your kids are on summer break is a great idea. It might be the rainy season but there’s still plenty of sunshine and dry weather to make the most of your time here, and it’s less busy as it’s not peak tourist time like in the dry season when all the snowbirds flock down and the Panamanian schools are out.  If you’re interested in visiting Panama and you want to look at some real estate while you’re here just give us a call. We can help you find a place that fits the needs of your family whether that’s with proximity to a good school, activities to do, specific amenities, or anything else that matters to you. Whether you’re looking to locate your family in the city, near the beach, or up in the mountains, we can help you find what you’re looking for.

Looking for the right schools in Panama for your children in a foreign country can be a challenge.  You want your child to integrate into society, but you don’t want them to miss out on a proper education. So you’re stuck deciding between private schools or public schools in Panama, the short answer is that foreigners tend to enroll their children in private schools. Why? Because the public school system in Panama lacks resources, devoted teachers, and a proper curriculum. There is also an overcrowding problem within public schools. This results in a split-day system where children either go in the morning or the afternoon to school. Therefore, students end up having shorter school days. Public Schools in Panama You can describe the Panama public education system as providing a low level of education and needing improvement. The system remains unchanged for 30 years due to fears of upsetting the teachers union. Education is predominantly taught in Spanish. However, the old president, Verla initiated a program to strengthen bilingual education. The goal of this program is to prepare Panama’s students for the globalizing society. How Does Panama’s Education System Compare? The Panamanian government is hoping to make improvements to the quality of education. With the focus given to the secondary education system. New technologies are being introduced into schools. However, progress is slow despite the installation of computer labs.  Investment in teachers and resources available to the students needs to be improved. But until this is done Panama will continue to provide lackluster results that will hurt the future of children. Is Panama’s Public Education Free? Primary education is compulsory in Panama until 9th grade and is free of charge for all students. However, Panama requires parents to pay for uniforms, books, and school supplies. High school can have a few fees, but it is generally free of charge as well. But, attendance is not required by law. Private Schools in Panama  Private schools are among some of the top schools in Central America. They offer quality education relatable to that of North America. With vast resources and quality educators, private schools tend to teach in English. This results in an educated bilingual middle class within Panama society. How Much Is a Private School in Panama? The admission fee for private schools varies. Schools can range from $1,000 to $12,000 per student. Fee structures may also vary as some may be one-time fees where others are recurring monthly fees. This can range from $180 to over $1,000 per child.   There are small private schools that cater to the neighborhood they are in. La Salle, El Javier, Maria Imaculada, Las Esclavas, St. Mary´s, Colegio Episcopal. The traditional catholic schools. La Salle, El Javier, Maria Imaculada, Las Esclavas, St. Mary´s, and Colegio Episcopal.  The high-end bilingual schools. Academia Interamericana de Panama, El Colegio de Panama, The Oxford School, Balboa High School, ISP, and The Lincoln Academy. Many children from expats and multinational company workers go to these schools. There is also the Lycée Français Paul Gauguin where they teach in French. English and Spanish are then considered second languages and not given much attention. When Is the Panamanian School Year? When it comes to the school year, it depends on the school. The traditional Panamanian school year runs from March to December. They then take their summer break during January and February for Carnavales. Other private schools follow the North American semester schedule from September to June. Public and Private schools observe the Carnavales, Easter, and Christmas holidays. Including the numerous government holidays throughout the year. Though the public school system in Panama is improving, it is still far behind that of the private schools in the country. If you have the financial resources to invest, it is in your child’s best interest to study in a private school.

The International School of Panama or ISP is located in Cerro Viento Rural on the route to Club de Golf. The International School of Panama was established in 1982 and is currently home to almost 850 students from all over the world. They offer classes from Pre-Kinder and 3 – 12th grade.   New applications to what is considered as the best school in Panama are accepted up through May. Applications go under review by the committee. The calendar runs from August – June. ISP Panama graduates are certified by the Ministry of Education in Panama. As well as an International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).   The School curriculum includes special education programs and classes for students with learning disabilities.   Special needs students are considered for admission to ISP on an individual basis. This will depend on their needs and the level of service available to ensure success in the regular classroom environment.   The Child Study Team uses a variety of information such as psychological and educational evaluations, Individual Educational Plan, school grades and interviews with parents and teachers determines admission.   All subjects are taught in English. International School of Panama Fees Costs for International School of Panama are the following Application Fee: PK 3- 12 USD: $250.00 This fee is designed to cover the cost of processing applications, and evaluations when necessary.  This non-refundable fee must be paid when the application is submitted. Capital Donation:  PK 3 – 12  USD: $16,000.00  ISP is a non-profit school and to fund the capital development of the School, each new student will be required to make a one-time Capital Donation.  This non-refundable fee must be paid for all new students within ten calendar days of official admittance to reserve a space.  New PK3 – 12th-grade students cannot commence school if the corresponding capital donation is not settled. Official admittance means when the Parent/Guardian has been notified via e-mail. Please Note: For new non-institutional PK-3 students a total capital donation of USD 16,000 may be paid in two installments. USD 6,000 due upon admission and USD 10,000 due on April 1, 2020. For new non-institutional students in PK-4 through 5th grade, you must donate USD 10,000. This is due upon admission and USD 6,000 due on April 1, 2020.  New families with one child in 6th grade onwards must pay one installment of USD 16,000. This must be done within ten calendar days of official admittance into the school.  New families with more than one child may have the option of paying in two installments per child if they so request.  USD 11,000 is due when officially admitted to the school and USD 5,000 at the beginning of the following semester. Siblings of new students who enrolled in SY 2016-2017 will pay a capital donation of USD 15,000 until SY 2019-2020. After SY 2019-2020, new ISP siblings will pay the regular capital donation established in the payment plan at that time. Annual Registration Fee: PK3 – 12 USD: $1,000.00 The Registration Fee is due in full at the time of admission and is not prorated regardless of enrollment date.  This fee is non-refundable. If a student qualifies for admission and there is an available space, the school may agree to reserve a seat for no more than one semester.  To reserve a space for a new student, payment must be made for the Capital Donation, Registration Fee and the current semester of tuition.  These payments are non-refundable. Reservations cannot be made for more than one semester in advance. Annual Tuition ISP tuition rates will be as follows: PK3         USD 9,424.00 Grades PK4-5         USD 14,111.00 Grades 6-8         USD 15,479.00 Grades 9-12         USD 17,502.00 The costs of textbook rental, workbooks, and other consumable instructional materials are covered by the tuition payment.  Exceptions to this list may include special materials requested for certain subjects. Tuition Payment Plan for New Students For new students starting in August 2019, tuition and fees will be due according to the following schedule: Quarterly tuition and fees will be due according to the following schedule: Due Date PK3 PK4-5 6-8 9-12 July 30, 2019         2,356.00         3,528.00         3,870.00         4,375.00 Sep. 27, 2019         2,356.00         3,528.00         3,870.00         4,375.00 January 3, 2020         2,356.00         3,528.00         3,870.00         4,375.00 March 20, 2020         2,356.00        3,527.00         3,869.00         4,377.00 The School will send reminders, but responsibility for making payments on their due date rests with the Parent/Guardian. Tuition payments are due as follows: July 30, 2019; September 27, 2019; January 3, 2020, and March 20, 2020. The costs of textbook rental, workbooks, and other consumable instructional materials are covered by the tuition payment.  Exceptions to this list may include special materials requested for certain subjects. Other General School Fees for New & Returning Students Institutional Fee USD: $3,500.00 per student An annual per-student Institutional Fee to subsidize the operating costs associated with running an international school is also placed. This is to accommodate and better serve the needs of more transient families. This fee applies to families with students whose educational benefits are paid directly/indirectly, reimbursed fully or partially, or included in their remuneration package by their employers, embassies, banks, corporations or other organizations. This fee is due upon acceptance or at the time of re-enrollment. Students in this category, as established in the admissions policy, have priority for admissions.   As part of the application process for all students applying to ISP, the Parents/Guardians will be required to complete an Institutional Fee Declaration. Here they will indicate if their employer is fully or partially responsible for the school fees of the child. For returning students, the Institutional Fee Declaration must…