Education Overview

The new economy and the information revolution that has been carried out along the last decades have defied the traditional concepts of education, linking them firmly to the ongoing global technological transformation. The change and change adjustment have become the dominant challenges to overcome by any educational system wishing to be successful. The Costa Rican authorities have been given to the task, promoting the necessary transformations to adequately prepare better workers and professionals. These efforts have shaped the economy and the values of society, placing Costa Rica at a prominent position as a world class investment destination.

The Costa Rican workforce is recognized for its high educational standards and its outstanding productivity level. These capabilities are not only the result of recent efforts, but also the expected consequence of a historical commitment towards the attainment of higher economic growth and improvement of the standards of living, through an energetic and widespread educational policy at all levels of instruction.

Since 1870, elementary schooling has been free and compulsory. This has established the foundations for a continuo improvement of university education and technical training, which in turn have enhanced the business environment and attracted foreign companies to set up in Costa Rica.

In order to provide sufficient resources to finance this ambitious national objective of guaranteeing universal access to quality education, the government is constitutionally required to allocate at least 6% of the country's GDP from its annual budget to educational programs. [1]

Elementary Education

According to the Human Development Report 2003 published by the United Nations Development Programme, Costa Rica's literacy rate is one of the highest in Latin America and developing countries. Adult literacy has grown from 93.9% in 1990 to 95.7% in 2001 and is expected to continue growing in the future. As a matter of fact, the literacy rate of individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age was 98.3% in 2001.

The high literacy rate that Costa Rica has attained over the years is primarily due to an elementary public school system, which is free and mandatory to all children between the ages of 6 and 13.

The educational approach has gone beyond teaching of reading and writing. The Ministry of Education has set up programs to guarantee literacy in computer sciences at international standards and English as a second language. As of 2000, 82.5% of all secondary education students and 50% of primary education students had computer-based education. English lessons at secondary level were nearly universal during the same year, offering such positive results that the Government is committed to provide additional resources to enhance the existing programs and create new ones specially designed for adults.

Secondary education is divided between academic and technical schools. Academic instruction is centered on science and humanities, while technical schools prepare students in areas such as: accounting, microelectronics, electromechanics, industrial electronics, precision mechanics, computer programming and network set up and administration among others.

Schools are allowed to change the curricula to satisfy the needs of a changing society, but are also monitored to insure excellence and quality. As a result of this organizational axiom, Costa Rica has developed a diverse and sophisticated educational framework that adequately fulfills the needs of the private sector through enhancing the abilities and knowledge of the students.

Amid the private schools, there are world-class institutions with a cultural emphasis on the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Israel, which further complements the range of cultural diversity of the school system.

As a result of the advances in elementary schooling, Costa Rican high school graduates are educated, enjoy a working knowledge of English, an increasing ability to use computers and a proven aptitude for developing new skills and tasks.

Higher Education

Costa Rican investment in higher education is yielding substantial benefits. Universities produce not only highly trained individuals, who are very well appreciated by the multinational companies, but also entrepreneurs with the ability to develop their own companies, specially in high-tech areas.

Currently, Costa Rica has fifty-four universities, four of which are public and the rest are privately owned and managed. The Ministry of Education through the National Council of Higher Education (CONESUP) supervises all of them.

Ø Universidad de Costa Rica - UCR (University of Costa Rica)

Ø Universidad Nacional – UNA (National University)

Ø Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica -ITCR (Costa Rica's Technical Institute)

Ø Universidad Estatal a Distancia – UNED (State University at a Distance)

Based on data from the National Deans Commission, in 2001 these four public universities were attended by 66,359 students.

Between 1993 and 2002, 85,038 students have graduated from public universities, while during the same period 96,403 students got degrees from private universities.

With 26,111 students in 2005, the prominent University of Costa Rica leads annual enrollment at the higher education level. This university, founded in 1843 in the city of San Jose, has the most ample range of degrees offered in the country, either by the number of careers it offers or the degree levels that can be opted for.

The UCR and the ITCR, are the leaders in higher and specialized technical education in the country. Between 1993 and 2002, 10,133 degrees in the field of engineering were granted, most of which coming from these institutions. Much of the emphasis put into these areas of study has been stirred by the increasing demand of technologically intensive industries, which shows the interest of local authorities and the capability the higher education system to respond quickly and meet changing demand promptly.

Private universities are generally smaller than their public counterparts, either measured by the number of students or the variety of professional careers they offer. These institutions of higher education usually cater to the demand of working persons that wish to expand their capabilities while still holding their jobs.

The State of the Nation Statistical Compendium published on October 2002 offers information regarding the number of graduates from public and private universities, which totaled 26,472 in 2004.

In addition to local education, Costa Rican students have been successful in accessing internationally recognized foreign graduate degree programs, especially in the US. Recognizing this potential, Harvard University established a highly accredited extension program in Costa Rica called INCAE, that is currently ranked as the best business school in Latin America, according to America Economia and the Wall Street Journal. According to the Financial Times, INCAE is the best business school in Latin America and between the top 100, among the more than 6000 all around the world. This institution has done pioneering investigations about the factors that determine Costa Rica's competitiveness and the best strategies to take advantage of them.

Technical Training

Encouraged by the growth of the hi-tech industry, great deals of effort and resources have been devoted to the development of technical education.

At the forefront of technical education is the National Training Institute – INA (Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje), which promotes the vocational development of men and women in all areas of production, following the highest international standards in electronic, electric, mechanical, and process engineering.

The INA is an autonomous public institution created in 1965 that offers its services free of charge and is financed primarily by resources coming from an earmarked 2% payroll tax, resources from the private sector and the government budget.

In addition to INA and the public universities, several other institutions offer diverse technical courses such as: mechanics, business administration with diverse emphasis, audit, marketing, information technology, natural resources, production, secretarial courses, tourism, dental technician, English, and industrial training involving different areas of engineering.

The emphasis on technical education has enabled Costa Rica to continuously attract new manufacturing of electronic components, computer parts, pharmaceuticals, jewelry, clothing, provide data processing services, software development, customers' support and shared services centers.