(Lingua Franca) During the most violent protests against the Noriega’s regime, the Civilistas used the Venezuela School (Escuela República de Venezuela) to organize their anti-government activities. It was always the departing venue for educator’s demonstrations.
During the late seventies, then teacher Marcos Antonio Alarcón, also used this building to organize large protests against the Educational Reform which mimicked the Cuban Communist education system. Alarcón finally triumphed and the reform was abolished in 1979. Alarcón las later designated Minister of Education by Guillermo Endara Galimany (1989-1994).
To this day, this is an iconic building used by educators as a symbol of their union’s vindication movements. Ironically, the PRD Party (Partido Revolucionario Democrático) which was closely associated with Noriega’s military regime, recently used this same building to hold their National Congress. Evidently this was a sign of bravado looking ahead for the next presidential elections in 2014. In politics the unexpected is the most expected. You can hardly ever forecast how politicians will behave in the future.
Below is a picture of this iconic building in Panama City, Panama. It still operates as an educational center under the management of the Ministry of Education.
Snapshot of the Escuela República de Venezuela in Panama City, Panama which symbolizes the vindication movements of the educational community in Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.