Foreign Student Population Triples

THE number of foreign students inCosta Rican public and private elementaryand high schools has more thantripled in 20 years, according to theMinistry of Public Education.The majority of this increase camefrom Nicaraguan, Colombian and U.S.students.In 1985, there were 13,485 non-Ticostudents. This year, there are 45,899.The largest jump came fromNicaraguan students – 7,038 in 1985compared to 36,042 this year. TheColombian student population grew fromaround 180 to 2,426 in the same period,and the number of U.S. students grewfrom 872 to 1,665 in the past twodecades.