President Varela said that this new center shall indeed represent social change and progress in bilingual education for the children of Colón, who will be properly followed by the Salesians.
"We have always had in mind that this center become something more, that it become a community where everyone could share, spend their leisure time and, of course, study. This is the origin of the idea of building this educational center, dedicated to all those children of Colón who aspire to education of quality, close by and accessible," said President Varela at the signing ceremony of the agreement.
"Knowing the methodology of the Salesian brothers, we know that there is no better choice for this mission. The children and youth of Alto de Los Lagos now have a safe place to sleep, recreational areas for play and physical exercise, and we also want to leave them an educational center that allows them to have a good future," underscored President Varela.
The President then concluded his message by ensuring that the St Giovanni Bosco Bilingual Technical and Vocational Training Center in Los Lagos, in the hands of the Salesians, will have an incredible development and from there great professionals will emerge, men and women who will make Colón and Panama a better place.
Fr Edward de La O, representing the Salesian congregation, signed this agreement with Ricardo Pinzón, Minister of Education, and thanked the Panamanian nation for maintaining its trust in the quality of the teaching of the Salesians. He added that this agreement will undoubtedly contribute to the development of local youth.
"It is an investment in education and a sign of openness, which will give the opportunity to many children and young people in the province of Colón, to have Salesian quality in technical-vocational education, in the style of Don Bosco," he said.
