Costa Rica

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.

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.

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.