According to a recent Meduca study, at least 33,000 students have migrated from private to state schools in the last three years (2020, 2021 and 2022).

The institution and different associations of parents also estimate that the figure might increase to 40,000 students when the results of the 2023 school year are released, which could range between 8,000 students, as a consequence of rampant unemployment.

In this regard, the head of Meduca, Maruja Gorday, commented that the areas with the highest demand for enrollment are North Panama, West Panama and San Miguelito, due to demographic growth and the large number of housing projects in those territories. It was reported that for the moment, Meduca has not completed the actual number of students from the private sector that will be transferred to the public system, as the procedures and requests for quotas continue.

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