Regional Ethnic Inequalities in Panama: Historical and Contemporary Access to Education

• In Event: (In)Equalities in International Histories of Education

Abstract

Panamanian population is largely geographically distributed along ethnic regions, with indigenous reservations, as well as historical afro-Panamanian provinces. These regions also suffers from significant poverty and lack of economic development. A Kruskal-Wallis comparison of student scores on university admission tests based on region of origin yielded significant differences, placing these regions significantly below the rest of the country. A historical review of distribution of teachers per thousand inhabitants through archival research back to the independence of Panama in 1903 demonstrates a historical neglected of this communities, although reversed in the past decades with apparent affirmative action. Improving access to higher education in these regions will require concerted culturally responsive efforts.

Authors

• Nadia De León, Centro de Investigación Educativa AIP

• Nyasha Warren, Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panama / Centro de Investigación Educativa AIP