EVALUATION REPORT. MANPOWER TRAINING AND UTILIZATION PROJECT, UNITED STATES AID MISSION TO PANAMA (MAY 4- JULY 17, 1970)

EXAMINATION INCLUDED VISITS TO TRAINING CENTERS,DISCUSSIONS WITH TRAINEES & WITH HEADS OF 2 TRADE ASSOCIATIONS. TRAINING WAS PROVIDED FOR 830 UNEMPLOYED HEADS OF FAMILIES IN AN "ACCELERATED SKILLED & SEMI-SKILLED TRAINING PROGRAM" COMPRISING 47 COURSES AT 6 LOCATIONS. THE INSTITUTO PARA LA FORMACION Y APROVECHAMIENTO DE RECURSOS HUMANOS (IFARHU), A NATIONAL AGENCY FOR PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY,BECAME THE INSTITUTIONAL BASE FOR ADULT VOCATIONAL TRNG AND CONTINUED THIS TRNG AFTER THE SUBPROJECT ENDED. HOWEVER,TRNG ALLOWANCES GIVEN TO PARTICIPANTS FOR FAMILY SUPPORT WERE DISCONTINUED AT THE END OF THE PROJ,RESULTING IN AN INCREASED DROPOUT RATE. SUBPROJ EMPHASIS WAS ON TRNG FOR EMPLOYMENT,WITH COURSES BEING TAILORED TO FILL RECOGNIZED JOB VACANCIES. TRNG WAS OFFERED IN THE VICINITY OF GREATEST DEMAND FOR WORK,NOTABLY IN PANAMA CITY & COLON,BUT ALSO IN 4 PROVINCIAL CITIES. A NOTABLE PROJ ACHIEVEMENT WAS THE COOPERATION PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS. CREATION & CONTINUATION OF THE SERVICIO DE EMPLEO(SENE) WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ELEMENTS OF THE PROJ,PROVIDING A CONTINUING PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR TRAINEES. SENE IS NOW SUPPORTED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOR. GOOD MEDIA PUBLICITY INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE TRNG PROGRAM. RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR FUTURE PROJS THAT WOULD DRAW ON SUCCESSFUL PROG ELEMENTS,AND ON PERSONNEL FROM THE ACCELERATED TRNG PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL TECH ASSISTANCE WOULD IMPROVE THE JOB DVLP,COUNSELING,& TESTING ACTIVITIES OF SENE. EVALUATOR RECOMMENDS THAT FULL-TIME PROJ COORDINATOR BE APPOINTED FOR FUTURE PROJS,THAT FOLLOW-UP TECHNIQUES BE ADOPTED TO TRACK GRADUATE TRAINEES,THAT BUDGET INFO BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE UNIT COSTS OF TRNG BY COURSE AND BY TR AINEE,AND THAT DROP-OUT PERCENTAGES BE CALULATED. A COORDINATOR COULD ALSO KEEP CLOSER CONTROL OVER US SUPPLIES,MATERIALS,AND VEHICLES OBTAINED WITH PROJECT FUND