What are the kids going to do about school?” My mother’s coffee mug hovered in mid-air, half-lifted as she paused before sipping to ask the question on everyone’s mind, eyebrows stitched with concern.
“Yeah, what are you going to do?” This from my sister, two chairs down, giving me the same quizzical stare.
The circle of women in the room murmured with shared concerns, as if my announcement that we would leave the relative safety of the U.S. public school system would somehow damage my bright, irreverent children.
I began my practiced monologue, the one-size-fits-all explanation you learn to give to ease the mind of worried friends and family. I explained the benefit my family would gain by living abroad, the unrivaled opportunity the children would have from knowing more than just their own culture… they would surf, explore the jungle, eat mangos from the trees, make new friends, and of course, go to school.
But which school?
Every parent bringing a family overseas has faced that room of quizzical faces… of half-admiring, half-reproaching stares from family and friends alike. Everyone in this boat has to quell the fears of others while convincing themselves that they are making the right choice for their family.
Showing confidence about your decision to go abroad is one thing, but truly knowing that you are making the right decision—especially when it comes to our children’s education—is another. It can keep the most stoically adventurous amongst us up at night. What if the new school is in Spanish and my child doesn’t get it? What if the kids are too rough? What if the school is too easy? What if it’s too hard?
Finding The Right Private School
So you’ve decided to move to Panama, the kids will go to private school but you haven’t found the right one yet.
Don’t panic! Many have been where you are before. We can figure this out together. You’ve made a great choice: Panama is lovely and private school can be a fantastic choice for quality education.
There are lots of private schools in Panama, and some are much better than others. From the barefoot to the rigorous, there are a great range of options.
Unless you and your family have lived abroad elsewhere, you might be surprised to find that there are some uniquely Panamanian factors that may affect your school search.
Here are some things to consider when looking into private schools in Panama:
Cost
The average monthly cost of a foreigner-friendly private school in Panama is about US$500 per child, with a variety of additional yearly/registration fees. Fees can range from nominal (US$150 per year) to substantial (US$800 or more per year). Some schools offer multi-child discounts, others have programs to reduce tuition, but any decent private school is going to be an investment.
Accreditation
While accreditation seems to be the gold standard in assessing the quality of a school, remember that it’s granted through compliance with standards set by occasionally less-than-effective governmental agencies.
Think of accreditation as a nice bonus factor… not the sole criterion you look for.
Schedule
Panamanian schools typically run from February to December, so “summer vacation” falls squarely in the middle of North American/European winter. Not a big deal unless you want to travel or visit family during extended vacation and plan to do something besides ski or fill your belly with hot cocoa. A few Panamanian schools run on an American schedule (from August to June), but it’s not common.
Good Teachers Trump All
In Focus: PanamaFounding Publisher Kathleen has raised and sent her children to school across three continents and several countries, including Panama. It’s safe to say she knows what she’s talking about on this front…
“For Lief and me, the most important criterion in choosing/considering schools in Panama was where the teachers come from.
“A school… especially an upper school or high school… is only as good as its teachers. The facilities are important, but teachers are what really matter.
“Most ‘international’ schools in Panama employ most all Panamanian teachers. To me, this is a fundamental limitation that cannot be overcome.
“I think, therefore, that the most important question to ask about any school you consider is: Where do your teachers come from? What percentage are Panamanian? What percentage are other? And where do the ‘other’ come from…
“An ‘international’ school with all Panamanian teachers is only as good/competitive as those teachers… it’s not an international school. It’s a Panamanian school… and, frankly, the Panamanian education system is not impressive or internationally competitive.”
Quality
Obviously, this is top priority. You can look at the boatload of online reviews or ask people their personal opinion, but the best thing you can do to assess the quality of a prospective school is to go in person. Take a tour and ask questions—find out for yourself.
Are the children happy? Do the administrators seem knowledgeable? Are the teachers competent and experienced? Ask to see samples of student work, and, above all, trust your instincts. You know what’s best for your child, and this is not a decision to be taken lightly.
Student And Teacher Turnover Rate
Lots of foreign-friendly private schools have a healthy student and teacher turnover rate due to the transient nature of expat living, but good schools will keep both for years on end. Just like anywhere in the world, a great school is a reason to move to and stay in an area. Studies show that high teacher and student turnover affect instructional effectiveness. Knowing what percentage of teachers and students are new that year will help gauge your child’s day-to-day experiences in their new school.
Student And Teacher Turnover Rate
Lots of foreign-friendly private schools have a healthy student and teacher turnover rate due to the transient nature of expat living, but good schools will keep both for years on end. Just like anywhere in the world, a great school is a reason to move to and stay in an area. Studies show that high teacher and student turnover affect instructional effectiveness. Knowing what percentage of teachers and students are new that year will help gauge your child’s day-to-day experiences in their new school.
Language
While we all want our children learning new languages, we don’t want them to miss out on important instructional content due to language problems. Thus, it’s highly important to ask about the language that lessons are conducted in.
If your child is a native English speaker and speaks anything above intermediate Spanish, they’ll learn the language quickly and should be OK in a primarily Spanish-language instructional environment. If they have never learned Spanish, that’s fine, but avoid making a challenging transition even more difficult by enrolling them in a Spanish-only school. It will make it hard on your child and the other students!
Many private schools are bilingual at the least, with designated parts of the school day in Spanish or English. Some are entirely in English, some are entirely in Spanish. Knowing your child’s level of Spanish understanding will help.
Standards-Based Education
Of course, you won’t typically find American standards-based education outside of the States, and you may be happy about that. However, in case your children re-integrate into the U.S. school system at any point, it’s important to remember that U.S. standards are a decent measure of what a child should learn in a given year.
For example, in third grade, American students would learn the U.S. states. If you are in Panama while your child is in third grade, they may not learn U.S. geography. If your children return to the States for fourth grade, teachers will expect that they already know the states. Your children may struggle—or even be held back—if they do not. Ask about the curriculum employed by the new private school, and be prepared to supplement your child’s education if needed.
Secular Or Non-Secular?
Any school accredited by the Panamanian government will require a religious element to their curriculum. Remember, roughly 90% of Panama identifies as Catholic or Christian, so religion is a fact of life here. A pervasive fact in their society. There is no separation of church and state in Panama.
Religious education is a part of the school day. Whether you are for or against religious education, remember to ask about its amount, frequency, and nature.
Deciding to enroll your children in a new school can be nerve-wracking, especially in a new country and culture. Relax. Many have been in your position before, and, chances are, you know what’s best.
At the end of the day your children will have an experience that’ll set them apart from their peers and that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. Knowing what to expect and what to ask as you begin your search for schools will empower you and your family to feel confident in your decision to raise your family abroad.
Karina Beadling
