Costa Rica: An Overview
Costa Rica is a country that comprises 5% of the world's biodiversity within a small land mass.
The first natives in Costa Rica were hunters and gatherers, and the country
served as an "Intermediate Region".
In 1502, Costa Rica was a colony of Spain when Christopher Colombus made a
landfall. During this period, the country remained impoverished.
After 1869, the country established a democratic government on which the power was not only in one person but it was from everybody.
After 1869, the country established a democratic government on which the power was not only in one person but it was from everybody.
The cultivation of coffee, is one of the country's most important exports.
Spanish was the official language of Costa Rica.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF COSTA RICA
Education in Costa Rica is divided into 3 cycles:
pre-education (before 7), primary education (from 7-12), and secondary school
(from 12-18), which may land to higher education.
Preschool and basic education are free to the public. Since 1869, education is free and compulsory and its according to Article 78 of their constitution. These elementary and secondary schools are both divided into two cycles.
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| Pre-Primary Education |
The government placed a priority on primary
education, so few preprimary programs are available. Children from the ages of
two through six are enrolled in instructional programs, and two meals a day are
provided. Preprimary educational curriculum consists of instruction in arts,
crafts, music, and language development.
Costa Rica's educational system is ranked 20th in the Global Competitiveness Report last 2013-2014, and is described as if " high quality".
- The literacy rate in Costa Rica is 94.9%.
While on the secondary education, it is also divided into two cycles of three years. The first cycle is intended for general education.
Meanwhile, the second
cycle implies specialization. Specializations can be academic or technical.
The
last cycle ends with the "Bachillerato" granting access to higher
education.
Thus, many of their universities have also their entrance examinations.
Curriculum
- Has one national curriculum
- Mandatory (K-9)
- Free Public Education (K-12)
- Classes are half a day with some grades attending in the mornings, while others attend only in the afternoons.
- Grades are combined in some schools. Taking into account recess and lunchtime, students spend as little as three hours a day in the classroom.
- Costa Rica has one of the shortest school years in the world: 180 days.
- Teachers teach different classes and different grades in the morning and in the afternoon.
- The curriculum is developed by the Ministry of Education and is identical throughout the country.
- Have 30-40 students each class.
Grading System
S—Sobrea saliente (outstanding)
N—Notable; Suf—Suficiente (sufficient); and
I—Insuficiente (insufficient)
"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
Indeed, I can truly say that education is a weapon for us upon changing the world. If we are educated, we have the prerogative to choose which path we ought to follow. We can also kill our ignorance through education.
Education in the Philippines don't have any difference across countries. Although we have different ways of appreciating and putting it into action, it is very evident in the Philippine Educational system that we are still trying to adjust to our new system of education which is the K-12. Many countries have already adjusted to this curriculum, even though there are some shortage whether on facilities and manpower.
The difference between the Costa Rican and Philippine educational systems was that, Philippine education was not that really compulsory and free.
"Youths are the hope of our nation." I believe that, students are capable of changing not only the society they belong but the whole wide world.
