Meduca is asking for a transfer of $3.9 million.
PANAMA.  The pay of the first 15 days for the 900 new teachers that entered into the educational system is in danger because the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) doesn’t have the money to pay this expenditure.
Christian Sanchez, national subdirector of human resources said that facing this situation is a wait for the Budgetary Commission of the National Assembly to authorize a transfer of $3.9 million.
Sanchez declared that without this money the group of educators that belong to the second group of vacancies will not receive their money on time.
According to the official, the sooner the transfer of money is approved by the Assembly, the more likely it will be that the teachers receive their salaries on the stipulated date, because he already coordinted it with the Minstery of Economy and Finance (MEF).
Despite the fact that past Thursday, the Viceminister of Education,  José Pío Castillero presented himself to the Budget Commission to support the petition, the deputies said they preferred that it be the minister himself, Salvador Rodríguez, who would support the application.
As far as vacancies that haven’t yet been filled, he said that the ministery is redoing the terms to contract 80 educators that are yet to be named.
“MEDUCA IS IRRESPONSIBLE”
For Luis López, that the magisterial coordinating unit sustains that the ministry doesn’t have the money to pay the teachers displays irresponsibilty and a lack of planning on the part of MEDUCA authorities.   López qualified the situation as “delicate”, because if MEDUCA doesn’t pay on time, it could kick off a labor stoppage.
Mario Almanza, of the Association of Independent Authentic Teachers (AMIA), said that once again the ministry is demonstrating improvisation in education.