Starting in 2025, the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) will distribute free laptops to all students from 7th to 12th grade in the country’s public schools. This measure seeks to equip students with essential technological tools for their learning and to face the challenges of the 21st century.
The program is implemented through an agreement signed by the Minister of Education, Lucy Molinar, and the vice president of One Laptop per Child (OLPC), Lylian Peraza. In addition to the delivery of the devices, teachers will be offered training to lead the digital transformation in the classrooms.
Molinar stressed that this initiative will modernize education in Panama, allowing students to reach their full potential. He stressed that the goal is to close the educational gap and transform the system by integrating technology into the classroom.
Adolfo Fábrega, director of the Government Innovation Authority (AIG), said that the AIG will guarantee that the equipment is high-end and meets the appropriate technical specifications. This commitment seeks to raise the educational level of students.
Lylian Peraza said the project has proven successful elsewhere, with students overcoming their fear of using computers. OLPC will also collaborate with MEDUCA in training teachers and implementing controls for the security of the use of the devices.
With this alliance, MEDUCA and OLPC reinforce their commitment to a more inclusive and technological education, transforming classrooms into spaces for innovation and learning adapted to the needs of the 21st century.