Panamas education budget slashed

Politicians love to talk about the importance of education but when push comes to shove, and it’s time to open the purse strings, there is never enough money. Panama’s Ministry of Finance has instructed the Ministry of Education to slash $247 million from its 2011 budget request..

The Ministry of Education had requested just over $1 billion for next year, but the Ministry of Finance cut that to $757 million. At a budget hearing before the National Assembly, Minister Lucy Molinar said that the cuts would impact purchasing of supplies and staff hiring.
With many schools already desperately short of even basic materials, parents and teachers warn that cuts will affect national education
  {jathumbnail off}