Summary.
The draft bill recognizes psychopedagogy as a profession and lists specialties involving, among other subjects, learning difficulties, inclusive and special education, neurodevelopment, early intervention, neuropsychopedagogy and clinical psychopedagogy. It also covers specialties arising from scientific advances in the field. The bill treats psychopedagogy as a liberal profession that qualified psychopedagogues could practice throughout the Republic of Panama, subject to the proposed law and its regulations. It seeks to regulate practice in both the public and private sectors.
The text describes psychopedagogy as a discipline concerned with understanding and addressing teaching and learning processes, specific learning needs and multiple learning problems, as well as adaptation to educational and social settings. It brings together the cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of learning, drawing on human development, pedagogy and neuroscience. Its stated objectives include establishing the profession and its specialties, promoting continuing education and professional ethics, defining practitioners’ field of work, rights and duties, and seeking equal access to psychopedagogical care, services and functions.
To frame those objectives, the bill defines concepts concerning learning and professional intervention. It describes educational and learning pathways as routes adapted to students’ abilities and goals. Specific learning needs are described as circumstances requiring educational adjustments, differentiated methods and specialized support. The definitions also address neurodevelopment, learning disorders and problems, and barriers that can impede learning. The bill defines equal opportunity, the right to learn and inclusive education, together with educational support and pedagogical adjustments that may affect teaching methods, materials, assessment, timing and technological assistance. Its definition of psychopedagogy encompasses prevention, assessment, diagnosis and intervention in educational, clinical, social, judicial and professional settings. Educational or psychopedagogical expert assessment is described as a technical evaluation used in legal, judicial or administrative matters. Therapeutic psychopedagogy is linked to intervention strategies for learning and developmental difficulties.
The draft bill recognizes psychopedagogues as professionals in the social sciences, humanities and health whose professional qualification would be granted by the Technical Council of Psychopedagogy (Consejo Técnico de Psicopedagogía). It reserves to qualified practitioners activities including research, advice, prevention, assessment, interpretation of tests, diagnosis, remedial treatment, consultancy, expert assessment and judicial support relating to teaching and learning. It also assigns them the use, design, administration and interpretation of psychopedagogical and psychometric tests and instruments. In educational, judicial, social and clinical settings, psychopedagogues would identify, diagnose and treat learning needs and difficulties, applying pedagogical adjustments to educational and learning pathways.
Professional practice would be subject to regulations, manuals and procedures established by the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) together with the Ministry of Social Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Social), the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) and the Judicial Branch (Órgano Judicial), as well as other public institutions requiring these services. The proposal concerns those bodies, psychopedagogy professionals, the education and health sectors, and people receiving psychopedagogical care.
What it proposes.
- Recognition and practice of psychopedagogy and its specialties.
- Scope of practice and activities reserved to qualified psychopedagogues.
- Concepts and procedures concerning learning and psychopedagogical care.
- Application of institutional rules to professional practice.
Who it would affect.
- Qualified psychopedagogues and practitioners in their specialties.
- Public and private institutions requiring psychopedagogical services.
- People receiving psychopedagogical assessment, support or intervention.
Key points.
- Recognizes psychopedagogy and its specialties as a liberal profession practiced by qualified psychopedagogues in the Republic of Panama.Art. 1
- Defines the discipline through its work on teaching and learning processes and educational and social adaptation.Art. 2
- Sets objectives for professional regulation, continuing education, ethics and equal access to psychopedagogical services.Art. 3
- Defines learning pathways, needs and barriers, inclusive education, pedagogical adjustments and psychopedagogical expert assessment.Art. 4
- Assigns the granting of professional qualifications to the Technical Council of Psychopedagogy and reserves assessment and intervention activities to qualified practitioners.Art. 5
- Describes psychopedagogues’ functions in educational, judicial, social and clinical health settings.Art. 6
- Subjects professional practice to the regulations, manuals and procedures of the relevant public institutions.Art. 7