International Standard Classification of Education for Costa Rica

The education system in Costa Rica is linear. Primary education is compulsory. Lower secondary education is composed of general education courses. In Upper Secondary Education students are required to choose an educational track. Their choice is based on their interest and whether they would like to continue to higher education.  There are three tracks to choose from: Academic, Arts, and Technical.

In order to graduate from upper secondary education and continue on to higher education, students must pass the Bachillerato Exam. This is when the education system can dead end for a student, since in order to continue with their schooling in higher education students must pass this exam (UNESCO-IBE. 2010).

Student may exit the formal educational system and enter the non-formal education sector. It is also possible to re-enter in to the formal educational system.

 

Education Organizational Structure

Costa Rica has a robust organization of its Ministry of Public Education. Costa Rica continues to have a centralized public educational system. Educational reforms created a more regionalized public education system. The country was divided into regions and assigned directors to the different regions. This would provide a platform for evaluation and control of the educational outcomes in the different regions in Costa Rica.

 

 

This is a translation of the legend on the found on the image of the Ministry of Education Organizational Chart.

 

 

 

 

The Ministry of Public Education is run by the Minister of Education. The Minster oversees all of the subdivisions of the public education system which include:  Political, Operative directions, Operative Departments, Advisory Board, Superior Delegation and Delegation units.

Political Level: includes the Minister, Vice-Minister of Academics. Vice-Minister of Administration, Vice-Minister of Institutional and Regional Planification. They oversee all the major subdivisions of of the system.

Operative Direction Level: includes curriculum development, programs on equity development, and technological resources. Overseen by the Vice-Ministers.

Operative Departments Level: The largest of all the subdivisions. It includes everything from  legal affairs, curriculum, health and welfare, archives and public services just to name a few.

Advisory Board:  includes auditing, press/public relations, international partnerships and affairs. Directly overseen by the Minster of Education.

Superior Delegation Level: includes tribune of teaching careers, superior council of education, and CONESUP organization regulating private universities. Directly overseen by the Minister of Education.

Delegation Level: includes the equity and efficiency of technical schools, scholarships, quality assurance, and an inclusive educational system. Directly overseen by the Minster of Education.