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Nearly a year into the collaboration between Panama's Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) and UNESCO's Latin American Laboratory for Assessment of the Quality of Education (LLECE), the CRECE pilot test was conducted, an evaluation designed to measure the learning outcomes established in the curriculum for Panamanian students in 3rd, 6th, and 9th grades in the subjects of Spanish (Reading), Mathematics, and Natural Sciences.

This pilot involved a sample of 65 schools across the country's 10 regions and 6 indigenous territories, with around 18,000 students participating.

Gina Garcés, Panama's National Director of Evaluation, highlighted the importance of this process: "We have seen the commitment of school authorities and the community in general, including parents, who have shown interest in understanding the learning levels of their children as they participate in these types of processes and evaluations. Schools have been open to hosting this assessment across all regions of the country, from Bocas del Toro to Darién."

Garcés also emphasised the pilot as a way to evaluate the instruments and test the methodologies in a novel experience for the country, since the CRECE test will, for the first time, be applied on a national scale to all students in the three assessed grades: "This pilot gives us the foundation to make necessary adjustments and improvements. We've been observing schools to record best practices and lessons learned, so we can make the required changes to ensure a successful and large-scale application in October, where we, as a country, will take on the important challenge of incorporating all 3rd, 6th, and 9th grade students in the final evaluation," explained the specialist.

Additionally, the pilot process benefited from the comprehensive support provided by UNESCO's LLECE Laboratory to Panama’s Ministry of Education, which included guidance on the design of the evaluation tools, field operations, data processing and analysis, and the future communication and dissemination of the 2024 CRECE results.

“This pilot reflects an unprecedented effort by LLECE, marking its 30th anniversary and showcasing its ability to innovate and develop new projects. By harnessing regional synergy, this advisory work in Panama will strengthen the quality of education and contribute to the improvement of learning outcomes for the country’s students, who are the true protagonists of every project and tool we develop,” said Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director of UNESCO's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.

This advisory support to the Panamanian state reinforces UNESCO's commitment to strengthening educational quality in the region and advancing the educational recovery and transformation agenda, promoting strategies that contribute to the holistic development of school communities in Panama.