Varela sanctions the Law that creates the first higher technical institute of Panama

The Panamanian president, Juan Carlos Varela, sanctioned today the Law that makes official the creation of the Specialized Higher Technical Institute (ITSE), which, according to the Government, will attend the growing demand from the private sector for technical careers, an official source reported.

Panama, Nov 8 (EFE). - The Panamanian president, Juan Carlos Varela, sanctioned today the Law that officializes the creation of the Specialized Higher Technical Institute (ITSE), which, according to the Government, will meet the growing demand of the private sector for technical careers, informed an official source.

"We are heading towards a model of technical higher education, preparing professionals who have all the necessary certifications to compete for better jobs in Panama, "said Varela in the act of sanction made at the Technological University of Panama (UTP).

Varela added that through the ITSE, whose investment exceeds 200 million dollars, will be addressed "the growing demand of the private sector for technical careers specialized in areas such as tourism, logistics, finance, industry and air navigation. "

A recent study by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development showed that 70% of The jobs that will be generated in the next 10 years will be technical, so it is important to focus education towards those areas that demand the labor market, and the ITSE is "an option to train those professionals, "says a statement from the Panamanian Presidency.

Varela stressed in this regard that" this is a historic step that will revolutionize education technical and professional of Panama, and will position us at the height of a globalized economy. "

More than 400 students from about a dozen technical institutes and schools they participated in the act of enacting the law.

The ITSE will be organized into 3 schools with 8 departments and will offer 18 Higher Technical Education programs.

The Institute Superior Specialized Technician will be a training vehicle for young people to have tools to enter the labor market efficiently and quickly.

educational institution will offer post-secondary education with two-year study programs, in which the specialties to be taught were designed based on the demand laboral.

Located in Tocumen, the eastern periphery of the capital, the ITSE, which is built with an advance of more than 22% and an investment of some 200 million dollars, will have the capacity to 5,000 students in its initial stage, according to official information.

Last October 25, the Panamanian Parliament approved in the third and last debate the law that creates the first institute senior technician in Panama, a country where the demand for skilled workers is expected to increase over the next 10 years.

Bill 551 approved by Parliament, and sanctioned today by Varela, establishes that the ITSE must operate from 2019 with a first budget of approximately 16 million dollars to provide technical education specialized to graduate students of the second level of education.