Israel has announced it will offer training worth $1.5 million to Costa Rican teachers in areas such as agriculture and information technology, said Wilberth Gutiérrez, spokesman for the National Training Institute (INA).
Earlier this month, INA president Carlos Sequeira and Israeli Ambassador Ehud Moshe Eitam signed an accord to bring Israeli experts here to teach INA instructors. Teachers will also travel to Israel for training, Gutiérrez said.
The state-run INA offers free continuing education courses to Ticos ages 15 and older.
“Despite the … instability in the Middle East, Israel has become an economic and technological powerhouse,” said Eugenia Flores, Costa Rica’s minister of science and technology.
She cited as proof Israel’s ranking on NationMaster, a Web site by the Australian technology company Rapid Technology.
Israel ranks seventh on the technology index, which measures spending on research and development, creativity within scientific community, and access to personal computers and Internet. Costa Rica ranks 54.
“Although Costa Rica is now considered a more developed country, we are continuing our collaboration because Israel has a historical friendship with Costa Rica,” Eitam said.
The ambassador refused to confirm the value of the training.
The two countries have yet to work out details, such as when and where the training will take place and who will be involved, Gutiérrez said.
–Gillian Gillers
