Costa Rica

Costa Rica Libraries

admin — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:41:56 +0000

Given the fact that Costa Rica devotes its greatest efforts to education and health, it comes as no surprise to know that the people may freely use any of the numerous libraries existing all over the country. The largest of all is the National Library, standing opposite the National Park in the capital. Its collection of books and documents, as well as microfilms, is one of the most complete of its kind. All educational institutions have their own library, ranging from the large University libraries to the small rural public libraries, as well as those possessed by secondary education schools. The Municipalities (cantonal governments) have their own public libraries, both in the capitals and in the other villages of the cantons. Mention should be made of the fact that over the past few years various national publishing houses have been created, the main one being the Costa Rica Publishing House, depending from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. This particular publishing house has published a great many books by good many authors and has thus made an extremely rich contribution to our libraries. It has also encouraged the tico the strive ever harder to improve his own cultural knowledge within the framework of healthy national pride.

The Bri-Bri Indians

admin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:33:24 +0000

The Bri-Bri tribe has lived for many centuries in the Talamanca Cordillera (the country’s highest) and has managed to preserve its vernacular language, customs and traditions. The tribe is practically the only native one remaining which still maintains its own identity in Costa Rica (however, it is fully integrated into national life in all its aspects) and as such has been given special attention by the State, particularly as regards health and education and the protection of its native values. Indeed in that part of the country there is a cultural radio station which broadcasts programs in the Bri-Bri language. There is also a newspaper written exclusively in Bri-Bri- It is interesting to observe the traditional folk ceremonies of the Bri-Bri tribe, especially those performed within their religious and cultural context and which have been preserved by them for many hundreds of years. Through its cultural and linguistic bodies the University of Costa Rica has prepared a grammar book and a spelling book of the Bri-Bri language which have been invaluable tools in the training of people to collaborate with the Bri-Bri tribe.

INCAE Costa Rica

admin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:22:54 +0000

The Central American Institute for Business Administration is also located in Costa Rica. This is a non-profit-making private multi-national higher education institution which is devoted to teaching, research and consultancy in the field of business administration in Latin America. It is known by its initials of INCAE (Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas).

It was founded in 1964 on the initiative of the Central American business community with the technical help of the University of Harvard Business School and financial support from the Agency for International Development.

The Institute started up its educational activities in 1964 with a senior management program in Antigua, Guatemala, which was followed by other programs in various cities in Central America. Each year the INCAE begins its Master Degree Program in Business Administration with the participation of professionals from various academic disciplines coming from more than 13 Latin American countries.

Costa Rica Universities

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:20:32 +0000

Higher education in Costa Rica has seen dramatic development. Although this kind of education has always figured high on the list of the country’s priorities, it was not until 70 years ago that this field really begun to flourish. The most important landmark in the recent history of education in Costa Rica was the reopening of the University of Costa Rica. Then came the founding of the National University and later, the creation of the Costa Rica Technological Institute followed by the Central American Autonomous University and the UNED. The existence of all these institutions as well as private universities and schools for vocational training, agreements concluded with the universities of other countries (particularly with the United States) has meant that national potential has been developed to the full. In fact, Costa Rica is self-sufficient as regards the liberal professions, and graduates grouped together in their professional colleges have become fully integrated into the country’s development. It is worth pointing out that students come from numerous countries all over the world to train in our higher education institutions, especially medical and paramedical areas, in different branches of engineering and business administration as well as agricultural sciences.

Costa Rica Schools

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:22:17 +0000

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.

Costa Rican Airports

admin — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:34 +0000

There are numerous aerodromes scattered all over the country, most of which are in private hands and accommodate small aircraft, which generally are used in agricultural tasks but also transport local or foreign tourists. The Juan Santamaría international airport (called thus in memory of the national hero of the same name) stands only a few km from the capital and is equipped with the most up-to-date aerial navigation equipment, as well as service infrastructure which is comparable to that of the large world airports. This airport is the largest in the country.

The airport can handle aircraft of any size and can guarantee the highest standard of safety. There are two other alternative airports: one in the north-east of the country near Liberia, capital of the province of Guanacaste, and the other, on the Atlantic coast near the Port of Limón, capital of the province which bears its name. In the south –west of the country there are the airports of Palmar and Golfito, which can handle relatively large aircraft, particularly those of the local commercial airlines. Near the capital lies the Tobías Bolaños national airport, so called in memory of the pioneer of the Costa Rica aviation. This airport is the home base for the considerably large local and national private commercial aircraft fleet. The airport has all the necessary equipment and infrastructure required to provide a modern service. Costa Rica also has national companies which offer charter services as well as air taxis, both for domestic flights and flights from abroad. The country is linked to the rest of the world by means of airlines services, which are either national or North American, Mexican, Central American, Brazilian, Colombian, Venezuelan or else several European airlines. Thus, visiting the country by air is both easy, comfortable and safe; a fact which makes it a favorite form of travel for international tourism.

Costa Rica and Health

admin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:23:05 +0000

Throughout its history, Costa Rica had devoted the lion’s share of its resources to two specific areas: education and health. For this reason it has an extensive infrastructure given entirely over to preventive and curative medicine. Both private and state efforts converge on this matter and the responsibility for health care falls for the most part on the Costa Rica social security and welfare system, an autonomous state institution which, together with the Ministry of Health, looks after all inhabitants of the republic. The country has modern bio-medical equipment as well as professional medical and paramedical technicians of the highest standing and with great experience, all of which provides Costa Rica with an enviable position in health matters. The country has its own medical schools which are internationally recognized for their quality – a guarantee for the training and availability of proper human resources for the growing needs of the nation.

Costa Rica: Industry and Technology

admin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:37:40 +0000

Although farming is still one of the mains activities of the country, in the past few years, industrial activity has increased dramatically. So much so that today Costa Rica is self-sufficient in great many products which in previous years were imported, and which are now exported. The textile and food industries show very high growth rates. The pharmaceutical industry is also very important, especially in view of the interest that the country has as regards health. The raw-back draw has also become a flourishing source of work for the people Costa Rica with the added advantages of training specialized staff in high technology. And precisely due to this wish to occupy a competitive position in the field of industry the country has set up the Costa Rica Technological Institute which has had a great deal of success and has shown a striking development. The wide variety of professional courses in the field of technology offered by the ITCR has meant that many thousands of young Costa Ricans become fully integrated in the industrial expansion of the nation. it also means an adequate supply of well-trained human resources by means of short-term courses and the possibility of continue in specialized branches both within and without the country.

Costa Rican Ports

admin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:50:46 +0000

Bordering the Caribbean Sea on the Atlantic side of the country there stand the port installations of the Port of Limón and also those of Moín terminal. These installations have all the necessary equipment for the movement of general merchandise, the export of bananas, coffee and the new mode containers. It can also handle the transfer of crude petroleum which is pumped to the nearby national refinery.

There are three main ports on the Pacific ocean side; these are Puntarenas, Quepos and Golfito, the latter two of which were designed and equipped for banana export. At present Puntarenas is a docking port for ships coming from various parts of the world, be they commercial or private, and there is still a considerable amount of activity there in spite of the fact that the main activity has moved to the nearby port terminal of Caldera standing a few km to the south of Puntarenas. All these ports are linked to the capital by land or by air and in the case of Limón and Puntarenas, also by rail. In the Gulf of Nicoya, in the west of the country facing the Pacific Ocean, there stands a port which has a very special features; this is the sugar port of Punta Morales which was designed and equipped exclusively for the export of cane sugar, an important mainstay of the national economy.

Costa Rica Fishing

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:32:33 +0000

Notwithstanding the enormous marine wealth of the country, which has increase dramatically with the tenfold increase in Costa Rica’s territorial waters; the country has a small-scale fishing industry. Both the small fishing fleet and scant infrastructure for deriving benefits from these natural resources are still in their infancy and are only now receiving significant help from the state. Up to now they have counted on the help provided by friendly nations, particularly Taiwan and Spain, the state supports and encourages the formation of cooperatives. Taiwan collaborates in investigations into better fishing methods and sea-fish farming; Spain cooperates in the training of sailors and in the improvement of fishing-ship design by means of the National Trade Institute. Fishing as a sport is more highly developed and has special areas for sport competitions, specially as regards the fishing of sailfish and bass, which attract both amateurs and professionals from the country itself and from many others countries around the world.