Friday, October 24, 2025.
When “Cultural Immersion” Becomes Educational Neglect: A Word of Caution About Public Schools Abroad
Dear Expats with kids to Panama:
It’s easy to romanticize the idea of sending your children to a foreign public school to “toughen them up” or to “let them learn Spanish and local culture.” The thought carries an appealing simplicity because as we know children adapt quickly, they’ll learn the language, and they’ll see the world from another perspective.
But let’s be clear: immersion is not education. And using the Panamanian public-school system (or most foreign public systems, for that matter) as a substitute for a structured, accredited education can have serious long-term consequences.
The Reality of Panama’s Public Schools
Panama’s public education system faces the same challenges seen across much of Latin America: underfunded facilities, large class sizes, inconsistent academic standards, and occasional teacher strikes that disrupt the school year. Some schools do an admirable job with limited resources, but overall, the system was never designed to accommodate or educate foreign students temporarily visiting the country.
For expat families who place their children in a public school “just to learn Spanish,” the outcome is often a net loss in academics. A few months without math, science, or structured reading programs might not sound alarming, until those gaps begin to compound. Children returning to their home country frequently struggle to reintegrate academically, having lost ground in key areas that affect college readiness and long-term development.
What It’s Not Meant To Be
Public schools in Panama aren’t language-immersion camps or cultural boot camps. They are community institutions built to serve local populations, many of whom face their own educational hurdles. Expecting these schools to “toughen up” foreign children or to simply offer a window into Latin culture is unrealistic and arguably irresponsible. At worst, it can border on educational neglect, especially if parents intentionally forgo core subjects in favor of a cultural experience.
A Smarter Way: Short-Term Cultural Exchange
That said, the value of immersion is real when approached thoughtfully. If parents want their children to experience Panamanian culture and language, there’s a balanced way to do it:
- A short-term (summer) experience — a few weeks or a couple of months — can be beneficial.
- Supplement it with continued online or home-based academics from their home school system.
- Do a safety check before enrolling: visit the campus, meet administrators, talk to local parents, and understand the area’s security and transportation conditions.
- Maintain realistic goals: this is cultural exposure, not a replacement for their primary education.
Balance Is the Key
Your child’s education is the foundation for their future. Language and culture are powerful additions, but not at the expense of science, mathematics, or critical thinking. The best educational experiences, whether in the U.S., Panama, or anywhere else, are those that balance academics, culture, and safety.
If you truly want your children to grow resilient and worldly, make sure you’re not trading their future learning potential for a misguided notion of “toughness.” A balanced education will always serve them better than a misplaced experiment in cultural exposure.
Brett Mikkelson
Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigation in Panama
TOP NEWS and TIDBITS:
Panamanian Government Decrees Expropriation of Isla Margarita for Atlantic Logistics Projects
The Executive Branch published in Official Gazette No. 30390-C the decree declaring the expropriation of lands on Isla Margarita, in Colón Province, with the purpose of allocating them for new logistics and port developments of public interest.
The document states that the measure applies to the properties registered under Desarrollo Inmobiliario Margarita, S.A., linked to a project that years ago had been concessioned to Panama Colón Container Port, S.A. for the construction of a port on the Atlantic coast. According to the Gazette, the concessionaire company did not carry out the works nor comply with the technical and financial conditions established, which led to the declaration of the contract’s expiration.
The decree indicates that, despite the revocation, the area continued to have occupations and possession claims that prevented the State from fully disposing of the land. For this reason, it was decided to declare its expropriation for reasons of public utility and national security.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance was designated as the entity responsible for executing the process and determining the corresponding compensation, based on the commercial value of the property as determined by the Directorate of Cadastre and State Assets. Direct negotiation with the owners is also authorized before resorting to judicial proceedings, ensuring that the expropriation does not proceed without the guarantee of fair and prior payment.
The decree concludes that the expropriated lands will be allocated to logistics and port projects within the strategy to expand the Atlantic logistics corridor, in coordination with the Panama Maritime Authority and other competent entities.
Questionnaire to Prevent Lawyers and Accountants from Being Used in Illegal Schemes
The Superintendency of Non-Financial Subjects (SSNF) has invited all lawyers and accountants engaged in activities covered under Law 124 to complete a questionnaire that the institution will send. This questionnaire is intended to help these professionals avoid being used in illegal schemes.
“Neither the SSNF nor Law 124 regulates the profession of accountant or lawyer, but it does regulate certain activities they perform on behalf of third parties that could be used in money laundering, terrorist financing, or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction schemes,” said Gustavo Gordón, Deputy Director of the SSNF, on Reporte Estelar, Julio Miller’s program on Kw Continente.
Among the activities are advising on real estate purchases and sales, managing money and securities or bank savings or investment accounts, organizing contributions for the creation of companies, creating these companies, buying and selling legal structures, providing registered addresses, acting or arranging for someone to act within a trust, and activities as a resident agent.
Gordón explained that the form lawyers and accountants must fill out is designed to assess “our risks in money laundering and terrorist financing matters.”
“The self-assessment questionnaire is so that the subject understands the risks their professional practice might face due to lack of control measures and to avoid being used in money laundering or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction schemes,” he added.
He assured that the questionnaire is a self-assessment tool in which these professionals will understand what tools they do or do not have within their internal procedures to prevent being used in such schemes.
“The aim is to determine what prevention and control measures they have regarding due diligence, procedures for reporting suspicious operations, understanding procedures for politically exposed persons—which is widely discussed in the public—as well as due diligence and, above all, risk procedures.”
Non-financial subjects include casinos, new and used car dealerships, precious metal sellers, companies operating within free trade zones, construction and real estate companies, and finally, lawyers and accountants.
Gordón also explained that this self-assessment procedure has been in development since July and has been carried out in an organized manner. The broader sector was left for last—lawyers and accountants—in order to “have the full capacity to respond to these professionals seeking advice,” he said.
Gordón emphasized that it is mandatory for these professionals to submit their responses, although he clarified that “not all lawyers and accountants will receive” the questionnaire. However, those who are registered could be subject to a monetary sanction.
“Lawyers and accountants are truly important because they generate money in the market, carry out work, and generate capital, but we have the obligation to demonstrate that we are complying with these obligations in terms of anti-money laundering, not only as a country for regulatory purposes but also as a moral obligation,” he noted.
“Within the Supervision Directorate team, there is a specific training area, and by September 30, approximately 16,000 people had been trained by the Superintendency,” he said, adding that the training sessions have been both virtual and in-person, in coordination with the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF) and the National Commission against Money Laundering (CNBC).
MiAmbiente and FAO to Restore 10,000 Hectares of Ecosystems: Azuero and Darién Are the Priority
As part of the Panama Pact with Nature, the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have committed to mobilizing the necessary resources and aligning existing investments for the restoration of at least 10,000 hectares of ecosystems.
The Minister of Environment, Juan Carlos Navarro, held a high-level meeting with FAO representatives, where they formalized a joint commitment to address this situation, which MiAmbiente has described as a triple environmental crisis involving climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
According to the institution, the restoration with the FAO will take place in the Azuero Peninsula through programs such as “Azuero Verde,” implemented alongside the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with regional backing from the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD).
Similarly, this restoration program is expected to take place in Darién, where productive restoration and community strengthening projects will be promoted, including the “Biomes of Panama’s Critical Forests: Collaborative Conservation of Darién,” an initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The Panama Pact with Nature is the world’s first instrument to integrate commitments on climate change, biodiversity, land conservation, oceans, and plastics under a single strategic framework. Its national goal is to restore 100,000 hectares by 2035.
During the meeting, the FAO confirmed that it will work with the Panamanian government to mobilize and execute resources, strengthening its support for the national ecological restoration agenda.
The final version of the project is expected to be presented on Tuesday, October 28, after a two-month process of public consultations and interinstitutional coordination that included 1,160 direct contributions during its development.
Navarro indicated that this initiative includes a roadmap that unifies the country’s efforts in response to the triple crisis. “With technical allies like the FAO, Panama can develop a greener, more resilient, and fairer economy for all,” said Navarro.
Meanwhile, the Subregional Coordinator for Mesoamerica and FAO Representative in Panama and Costa Rica, Adoniram Sanches, stated that the goal is to transform agri-food systems toward sustainable models that restore ecosystems, strengthen food security, and directly benefit rural communities.
Odebrecht Case: Brazil Gave Panama 60 Days to Clarify Assistance Request, but It Was Not Done
Lawyers note that a deadline was set, and Panama, to the best of current knowledge, has not complied with the 60-day consultation.
In January 2025, Brazil granted Panama a 60-day period to provide the necessary clarifications regarding the request for international judicial assistance in criminal matters related to the Odebrecht case. Panama required cooperation from the country where the case originated, but the Brazilians needed clear details to ensure due process.
A document from Brazil’s General Coordination of International Legal Cooperation in Criminal Matters, signed by Larissa Brenda da Silva de Miranda, warned that if no response was received within this period, the file would be archived.
“It should be noted that, according to the terms of the cited resolution, failure to respond to this inquiry within the 60-day period will result in the filing of this case, regardless of its fulfillment, without prejudice to the fact that a new cooperation request can be made at any time,” the document reads.
What clarifications were requested by Brazil?
As part of its response to Panama, Brazil’s General Coordination of International Legal Cooperation reiterated its official letters No. 3577/2024/CRA/CGCP/DRCI/SENAJUS-MJ and 4370/2024/CRA/CGCP/DRCI/SENAJUS-MJ, dated September 2 and November 4, 2024, which indicated that Panama had to comply with the instructions of the Brazilian Supreme Court.
Specifically, Brazil needed Panama to clarify how it had previously used evidence obtained through the negotiated plea agreement 5020175-34.2017.4.04.7000, signed by Odebrecht, and through the Drousys and MyWebDay.B systems, as well as any other elements derived from that agreement.
On January 14, 2025, six days before the Odebrecht hearing in Panama, the Panamanian Judicial Branch requested information regarding the international criminal legal assistance request.
The importance of Panama clarifying the use of this evidence lies in the fact that most of it has been invalidated in Brazil. In 2023, the Brazilian Supreme Court annulled all evidence obtained through collaboration agreements with the construction company due to procedural errors committed in the Brazilian justice system.
Despite this warning, Panama has continued to seek this invalid evidence and apparently did not provide the clarifications requested by Brazil within the 60-day deadline.
“The reality is that Brazil told the Panamanian state that it could not use the evidence unless it specified the purpose. A deadline was set, and Panama, to the best of my knowledge, has not complied with the 60-day consultation,” lawyer Rolando Rodríguez told Panamá América.
MyWebDay.B and Drousys Systems
MyWebDay.B was corporate software created specifically to request, process, pay, and control all actions of Odebrecht’s Structured Operations Department (DOE). The system was deactivated following Marcelo Odebrecht’s arrest.
Evidence derived from this system and from Drousys, used in the Clemency Agreement 5020175-34.2017.4.04.7000 signed by Odebrecht in Brazil, is null and has no validity for the requesting party.
The final hearing in Panama for the Odebrecht case is scheduled for November 11, although lawyers have insisted on the nullity of this evidence. The question remains: will the Panamanian judicial system take note?
Panama and Paraguay Strengthen Economic Alliance: Logistics and Mercosur at the Center of the Agenda
The official visit of Paraguayan President Santiago Peña to Panama had a strong economic focus. At the Palacio de las Garzas, the Paraguayan leader and his Panamanian counterpart, José Raúl Mulino, discussed opportunities for cooperation in logistics, trade, and finance, in a meeting aimed at revitalizing regional integration with tangible benefits for both countries.
“We want the Panamanian logistics platform to access new markets, and with this, everyone will benefit,” Peña stated after the bilateral and expanded meeting with teams from both governments. The Paraguayan president emphasized that his country sees Panama as a strategic gateway to the Caribbean and Central America, leveraging its geographic position, the Canal, and the country’s network of ports and airports.
In return, Paraguay offered its support to help Panama finalize its accession to the Southern Common Market (Mercosur). “We will be the bridge for Panama to join Mercosur as quickly as possible, so that this can become a reality at the next bloc summit,” Peña said, noting that the organization—35 years old—provides clear rules and a stable framework for intraregional trade.
President Mulino confirmed that Panama will present its Letter of Accession in Brasília on December 2, opening new opportunities for the Panamanian export sector. Products that could benefit from Mercosur membership include pineapple, watermelon, melon, cassava, and papaya. “Integration is undoubtedly the future. We cannot remain isolated, because that way we will not grow,” Mulino told the press.
The meeting also addressed the possibility of establishing partnerships in sectors such as finance, pharmaceuticals, and real estate, using the development of the Panamanian market as a reference. Peña highlighted that this integration could translate into increased investment, employment, and greater exchange of goods and services.
Mulino invited the Paraguayan president to participate in the Panama Economic Forum organized by the CAF at the end of January 2026, as a platform to promote business contacts and strengthen trade ties.
The visit set the stage for a relationship that combines complementary interests: Paraguay seeks efficient logistical access for its production through Panama, while Panama views Mercosur as a pathway to expand its economic presence toward the southern part of the continent.
Ministry of Commerce and Industries Publishes Ratified Contract Between Panamanian Government and Chiquita Brands
Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries Publishes Ratified Contract Between Panamanian Government and Chiquita Brands
“Following the ratification of the MOU by the Comptroller General, Anel Flores, a Technical Committee will be established to coordinate the reactivation of the banana industry in Bocas del Toro, comprising MICI, MIDA, and Chiquita Panamá LLC, represented by Carlos López Flores,” the statement indicated.
They reiterated that the first phase will include 3,000 workers for agricultural cleaning and recovery within the first 45 days, and the second phase, scheduled for February 2026, will add another 2,000 workers for harvesting and packing. This initiative aims to create dignified jobs, reactivate the local economy, strengthen the production chain, and boost Panamanian banana exports.
Minister Julio Moltó emphasized that, under the leadership of President José Raúl Mulino, this partnership represents a historic step toward a modern, competitive, and sustainable industry, benefiting local communities and the province’s economic development.
The agreement, also signed by Roberto Linares (MIDA), will have an initial term of 24 months, extendable, during which the implementation of commitments and the expansion of operations will be closely monitored.
November 2: Panama City Hall Bans Music and Parties for Day of the Dead
Panama City Hall announced that, through Mayoral Decree No. 11, special provisions have been established for the observance of the Day of the Dead, to be held on November 2, 2025.
The decree restricts noise and dance-related activities from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, with the aim of preserving the respectful and solemn atmosphere appropriate for the occasion.
Establishments violating the Panama City Hall decree will face sanctions
Municipal authorities reminded citizens and commercial establishments that noncompliance with this measure may result in administrative penalties, in accordance with the Municipal Regime.
The Day of the Dead in Panama is a day of reflection dedicated to honoring deceased loved ones and is traditionally marked by the suspension of festive activities nationwide.
