Panama's Ifarhu proposes $267 million for PASE-U in 2027 budget

Panama's Institute for the Training and Utilization of Human Resources (Ifarhu) has proposed a substantial allocation of $267 million for the Universal Educational Social Assistance Program (PASE-U) within its 2027 budget project. This figure marks the most significant portion of the institute's investment budget, which is set at over $518 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

The overall investment budget within Ifarhu's total proposed budget of $518,205,045 for 2027 is $500,818,996. The largest share of this investment, $463,714,996, is designated for economic assistance scholarships, including PASE-U and other grants. Within this scholarship program, PASE-U alone is slated to receive $267 million, accounting for approximately 58% of the scholarship funds and over half of Ifarhu's entire investment budget.

Notably, the recommended amount for PASE-U represents a significant increase of $146.6 million compared to the institution's initial draft budget. This adjustment resulted from evaluations and discussions held in July with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). The budget also includes $37 million for educational credit, with $24 million for existing loans and $13 million for new ones.

In contrast, the allocation for construction, improvements, and equipment has seen a drastic reduction, falling from $2.65 million in the initial draft to just $104,000 in the recommended budget. Ifarhu stated that the proposed budget aims to ensure the continuity of its scholarship, educational loan, and PASE-U programs throughout 2027.