CCIAP: There is an urgent need to speed up the technical education offer in Panama

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) calls for the acceleration of technical education so that it is home to projects with a global impact.

According to the business union, Panama, like many other developing countries, faces the challenge of providing better training and employment opportunities to an ever-growing young population. A solution that has given effective results in other latitudes is the acceleration and diversification of the offer of technical education for young people.

Entrepreneurs warn that in key sectors such as hospitality, information technology and electronics, logistics, automotive technology, health sciences, industrial engineering, sustainable agriculture, theater arts production, media and culinary, among others, highly trained professionals are needed to promote economic development . and social development of our nation.

CCIAP emphasizes that collaboration between educational institutions and private companies can create synergies that benefit both the economic and social sectors, hence its support for Specialized Higher Technical Institute (ITSE) and his Board of Directorsprivate public collegial body.

Added to Dual professional training which offers National Institute for Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (Inadeh); as well as professional internship programs or internships in companies that provide the opportunity to gain practical experience and relevant skills for the labor market.

The union emphasizes that the lack of technical skills is an obstacle to the employment of thousands of young Panamanians and that this contributes to youth unemployment and, in many cases, to social marginalization. However, technical education has proven to be an effective tool for social inclusion.

“Training in specific technical skills gives young people the opportunity to improve their living conditions, reduce poverty and contribute to the economic development of the country,” they added.

They recognize the importance of the recently sanctioned An Act for the Improvement and Welfare of Teachersas his vision establishes a leading institution for the improvement and welfare of educators with programs based on scientific evidence that enable a positive impact on the transformation of the quality of education in the country with committed, capable citizens and ethical and social values.

“It is imperative that our educators have the tools necessary to train the next generation of highly qualified professionals. We hope that their postulates will be realized quickly and efficiently”, said the CCIAP.

The union emphasizes that accelerating and diversifying the technical education offer in Panama is not only a necessity, but an imperative opportunity, since young Panamanians have enormous potential that can be channeled through technical training, and the private sector can play a key role in this process.

“Panama with a well-educated and employed young population will be a more advanced, inclusive Panama with a more promising future,” he concludes.