'Tour Tilo': Panama initiative promotes essential values in schools

Panama has officially launched the 'Tour Tilo Panamá al Mundial' initiative, a nationwide program designed to instill fundamental values such as respect, honesty, perseverance, and teamwork in students across the country's schools. The launch event took place at the Carlos A. Mendoza school.

First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino and Minister of Education Lucy Molinar led the launch, joining fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in a day filled with playful activities and artistic performances. Students showcased their creativity through colorful 'sombreros locos' (crazy hats) and banners focused on strengthening the social fabric among children.

First Lady Cohen de Mulino explained that the program originated from her office after identifying persistent problems during field visits. She noted recurring deficiencies related to a lack of values, low levels of group work, incidents of bullying, and early concerns about children's mental health. The core mission of 'Tour Tilo' is to teach Panamanian children the significance of essential values from an early age, ensuring they feel valued and secure in their school environments.

Minister Molinar advocated for the use of playful and creative methodologies in academic teaching. She believes that concepts like responsibility and punctuality are better absorbed through fun dynamics rather than rigid classroom lessons. Molinar highlighted the current World Cup context as a propitious scenario, offering direct examples of discipline, perseverance, and coordinated effort that educators can leverage for student benefit. This didactic tool aims to reinforce coexistence from childhood, reaching both public and private educational centers throughout the republic.