No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaPresident Alvarado signs controversial dual education law

President Alvarado signs controversial dual education law

Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado signed into law on Thursday the Ley de Educación y Formación Dual (Law of Education and Dual Training), which will allow students to participate in vocational training in addition to their classroom studies.

President Alvarado and supporters of the law say it will help Costa Rican students prepare for the modern job market, while some students have protested the program, arguing it will treat them like a “cheap workforce.”

“Opportunities for all people will help this country improve,” President Alvarado said at a press conference after signing the law. “Thanks to what has happened here [students] will be able to gain experience, and even receive a recommendation.”

Students over the age of 15 at Costa Rican colleges and universities will be eligible to participate in the dual-education program.

“That is important, because one of the biggest bottlenecks our youth have to access work is their lack of experience,” Alvarado said. “Unemployment in our young adults exceeds 20%, and the main bottleneck is experience.”

President Alvarado said the law will facilitate students’ path into the job market and benefit Costa Rican companies by developing a highly skilled workforce.

“That is the only way Costa Rica will remain competitive in this world  — with quality, and with its people,” he said.

In a statement, the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (CICR) said it supports the new legislation.

“The signing of the dual education project pays off a debt that the country had with our youth, with employment, with workers in general and with companies,” the CICR statement reads. “The legal framework that is signed today will positively impact the industry, current students and workers who require learning new skills and abilities in a practical and agile way and thus increase their chances of entering a changing labor market.”

Trending Now

Juanes Lands in Costa Rica to Shoot Videos for New Tracks

Colombian singer Juanes has arrived in Costa Rica, turning our country's landscapes into backdrops for his latest music videos. The artist, known for hits...

Costa Rica Traffic Accidents Drive Up Insurance Premiums

Costa Rica's roads have turned into a deadly trap, with traffic accidents claiming more lives and causing more injuries than ever before. On Friday,...

Costa Rica Allows Cryptocurrency Donations for Political Parties

Costa Rica's electoral authorities have approved a groundbreaking shift, letting political parties accept donations in select cryptocurrencies for the first time. This move, led...

Costa Rica Approves Extradition of Ex-Minister Gamboa and Associates

A Costa Rican court has approved the extradition of former Security Minister Celso Gamboa Sánchez to the United States on charges of international cocaine...

Costa Rican Hotels Warn of Job Risks Amid Drop in Tourists

Hotels across Costa Rica face mounting pressures as tourist numbers dip and a sluggish dollar exchange rate eats into their earnings. From January to...

Costa Rica’s Hyatt Centric Escazú Finalist in GRI Awards

Costa Rica's hotel scene keeps building momentum on the global stage. The Hyatt Centric San José Escazú stands out as a finalist for Best...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica