Training
Reading and writing skills are very high in
Costa Rica. The country introduced compulsory school and
duty-free school as early as 1869. Formally, it is
compulsory to attend one year in preschool, which three
out of four children also do, and then nine years in
compulsory school.
The children start first grade at the age of six and
pretty much everyone goes the first six years. But only
three out of four complete what corresponds to high
school, which has raised concerns that Costa Rica will
not succeed in maintaining the competitive advantage
that educated labor has provided. Almost half of the
students leave high school.
High costs for school uniforms and school books,
among other things, are considered to contribute to many
drop-outs. For some, the distance to the school is a
problem. In addition, school days often begin at seven,
as public schools have a morning and an afternoon shift.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Country facts of Costa Rica, including geography profile, population statistics, and business data.
In 2006, the government introduced a cash grant for
poor families who have their young people in school,
which increased the proportion who attend school.
Investments have also been made to train teachers as
many lack formal competence.
There are five state and some 50 private universities
and colleges. The largest state university is the
Universidad de Costa Rica, which has close to 40,000
students and branches in several parts of the country.
Higher education keeps high quality and also attracts
students from other countries.
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 FACTS - EDUCATION
Proportion of children starting primary
school
96.6 percent (2016)
Number of pupils per teacher in primary
school
12 (2016)
Reading and writing skills
97.4 percent (2011)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of GDP
30.2 percent (2017)
Public expenditure on education as a
percentage of the state budget
30.2 percent (2017)
2011
September
Mark occupants are ordered to leave the reservation
A court orders the state to seize land owned by
non-Indians in a reserve in Talamanca off the Caribbean
coast, and to ensure that the land occupants leave the
reserve. The land is to be returned to the indigenous
people bribri, which technically already owns it. This
is the first time such a decision has been made, despite
the fact that the law that gave the indigenous people
the right to the land was established as early as 1977.
July
Government reform after strike
The president is hard pressed by the opposition and
forced to reform the government since the resignation of
the health minister. The crisis follows a strike among
health care professionals, which called for reforms of
the resource-poor social insurance system.
May
The ruling party loses support in Parliament
President Laura Chinchilla's party PLN loses control
of parliament when the right-wing ML withdraws its
support, due to disagreement over proposed financial
reforms. ML and all other opposition parties instead
form an alliance and thus have the opportunity to elect
the President and take control of the work of the
legislative assembly.
April
Jail for ex-president
Former President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (1998–2002)
is sentenced to five years in prison for corruption. The
judgment is appealed.
March
Court order on border dispute
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague
orders both Costa Rica and Nicaragua to withdraw all
personnel from the disputed Isla Portillos area on the
San Juan border. Costa Rica is given the right to send
environmental experts to investigate whether the
dredging Nicaragua has engaged in has caused any damage.
No tax on gambling
The government is withdrawing its proposal to impose
a tax on gambling activities, an important election
promise on how the fight against crime would be
financed.
January
"Defense network" is being built
The dispute with Nicaragua (see Foreign Policy and
Defense) causes Costa Rica to rust, even though the
country has no army. Security Minister José María
Tijerino announces that a "national defense network" has
begun to be established. The network includes, for
example, helicopter landing sites, roads and barbed wire
in the disputed area.
2010
September
Increased drug trafficking in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is included for the first time in the US
Foreign Ministry's annual list of 20 countries that are
central to the manufacture or smuggling of drugs. It is
a reminder of the deteriorating security situation in
the country. Cocaine seizures and homicide rates have
increased.
May
Chinchilla becomes President
Laura Chinchilla becomes the country's first female
president. Chinchilla begins by issuing four decrees
that she says reflect election promises to improve
security, fight poverty and preserve "green" Costa Rica.
February
PLN wins elections
National Liberation Party (PLN) candidate Laura
Chinchilla wins the presidential election in the first
round. She wins with 47 percent of the vote, against 25
percent for Ottón Solís from the Citizens Action (PAC)
and 21 percent for Otto Guevara from the Libertarian
Movement (ML). In the election to the Legislative
Assembly, PLN receives 24 seats, PAC 11, ML 9, the
Christian Social Unity Party (Pusc) 6 and Accessibility
without exception (Pase) 4, while three small parties
receive 1 mandate each.
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