Panama's Education System

So I had a compelling/tragically realistic discussion with an English professor at my University today about the state of and truths concerning Panama's Education system.  I'll list a few things here from our conversation that absolutely shocked me and put in perspective the differences between a developed nation's system and a third world country's.
First off, I'll introduce this teacher..his name is Nivaldo who is an English writing professor at UNACHI. He received a Fulbright scholarship about 15 years back which sent him to the United States for a year doing the same kind of thing.  Therefore, he has a lot of experience with both school systems and is visibly frustrated with how far behind Panama's is compared to that of the United States'.   Begin rant:
From the time the children here enter school to the time they graduate high school, the "passing" score in the public schools is 50% (compared to the 65-70% in the U.S.)  That may not seem like a drastic difference, yet, if you think about it, every single assignment that they have to complete in order to graduate from high school is pass/fail.  As Nivaldo said, it creates an attitude of "do just barely enough to get by" which then, in my view, potentially becomes habit and may be evident in their university studies and/or jobs they attain after graduating--not good for society.
Next, he talked about how students are never challenged to think on a higher-level in schools.  Rote memorization is the common (only) method. Copy definition, say the definition, repeat the definition. How do you grow as a student/person when you are never forced to think for yourself?
Yet, the most shocking thing of all to hear was that Panamanian students are never taught how to write. They do not write one true essay before they graduate from high school.  The most, he said, that they may do is write freestyle about a vacation, etc.  But at no point are they taught how to format an essay, how to research, or how to create any work of their own.  When they research, they google, they copy, and they paste....and that is acceptable.  It just put me in a state of awe to hear that most of the population of Panama (those who don't go on to a University) has never and will never write a formatted essay.
This is all until they come to the University, of course.  That is what Nivaldo says is so frustrating for him..He can't just teach them English writing; he has to first take them through the basics of writing, how to organize an essay in general, and then he can finally get into the English portion of it. My elementary education major may be of more use than I thought over the next 9 months.
All of these flaws, however, are clear, concrete problems that can be fixed.  With a bit of determination and research from a dedicated group of intellectuals, Panamanian education and, in turn, society could potentially be improved dramatically.