Effective Literacy in Panama: Development of an Innovative Methodology

Abstract

This article aims to present an innovative methodology to contribute to the improvement of the National Literacy Program in Panama. A historical-logical analysis addressed the main contemporary challenges facing the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) as the institution that manages the program. The most complex challenges relate to the selection and training of volunteers, the instability of trainers, material security, the participation of community leaders in identifying illiterate individuals, and the contextualization of the program within the traditions of indigenous communities. The article recognizes the opportunities offered to participants in promoting active learning, where illiterate individuals construct their own knowledge, focusing on the development of communication skills such as speaking, reading, and writing. The results of a trend study are presented, developed through the application of methods such as documentary and statistical analysis of the Literacy Program, and the main achievements and barriers it contributed to addressing this phenomenon among the illiterate population, a complex issue. However, it is essential to contribute to individual growth and their collaboration in community social transformation by fostering critical awareness in participants. The methodology would improve the intervention of community leaders and Mides promoters in identifying illiterate individuals, an aspect that favors their integration into the transformation of Panamanian society. It would also analyze the threats facing literacy in order to explore future prospects for its continuous improvement.