Much-loved Costa Rican elementary school to remain open

The Education Ministry reversed its decision to close a popular elementary school today after a report showed that the deterioration in the 112-year old building could be easily fixed.

Some 17 columns at  Buenaventura Corrales School  in downtown San José  have corroded, but they can be easily and cheaply repaired, said Roy Acuña, the engineer at the Federated Association of Engineers and Architects.

Education Minister Leonardo Garnier announced last week that he would close the school based on an initial report by the Culture Ministry that showed the columns´ deterioration. Parents, students and teachers protested the decision outside the Education Ministry in downtown  San José  Friday.

Repairs could take two to three weeks, Garnier said. Students, who are on vacation until July 18, may have to miss the first week of school, he added. The ministry has not yet calculated the cost of the repairs or decided who will perform them.