Costa Rica

To talk about schools in Costa Rica is to talk about the most important institution. If it was said 50 years ago, and quite rightly, that in Costa Rica there were more teachers than soldiers, today it can be said that thanks to the law of the Republic there is no Army, and by the same law there is no population center which does not have its own school. Primary education is by law free and compulsory and paid for by the State. One of every four civil servants is a teacher; 25% of the national budget is earmarked for education. Many visitors to the country are surprised by the fact that during the frequent parades on the occasion of patriotic or protocol acts, our highest authorities, in an atmosphere of good citizenship, are surrounded by a veritable “army” of uniformed schoolchildren together with their bands of music and the national flag. The teaching year begins in February and ends in December, interrupted by a fortnight’s holiday in July.