No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica prepares return for in-person school

Costa Rica prepares return for in-person school

Costa Rica’s public schools will return to the classroom on February 8 for the first time since the country declared a State of Emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some private schools in Costa Rica have already begun in-person lessons.

The Minister of Public Education, Guiselle Cruz, has argued in previous weeks that the return to classrooms is “unpostponeable.”

This reflects the difficulties Costa Rica experienced when trying to transition to online; in August 2020, five months after the country suspended in-person lessons, more than 475,000 students still hadn’t activated their online accounts.

Here’s what you need to know as the Costa Rican school year begins:

Classes will have hybrid model

Each education center can choose the teaching method that best fits its resources. Most will operate a hybrid model in which students go to in-person classes for up to four days each week. Students without reliable internet access should be prioritized for in-person learning.

Students ages 6 and up must wear masks at all times, including when they’re on the bus or walking to school. Desks should be spaced 1.8 meters apart to help with physical distancing. Schools will stagger start and end times for different grades to minimize crowding.

Recess will also be staggered, and students should avoid contact sports during that free time.

No obligation to send kids to in-person class

The Education Ministry (MEP) says parents or guardians should decide if they’re comfortable sending their children to in-person class. If they opt for online-only, MEP “will respect the decision.”

Students will not be penalized if they don’t have the standard school uniform or supplies.

MEP says it will continue distributing food packages to students who rely on the institution for their dietary needs.

Any case of Covid-19 confirmed in a student or in that student’s social bubble must be reported to his school.

Discontent from teachers

The Union of Costa Rican Education Workers (SEC) has joined many from the education sector in expressing discontent with the return to in-person classes.

“Since December, we have insisted on the vaccine for our nation’s teachers, because we understand that the lives of our colleagues in education cannot be put at risk,” the union said in a statement.

Teachers are in the fourth group for vaccine priority. They will receive doses after medical staff, the elderly, and younger adults with risk factors.

The SEC argues that older teachers and those with underlying health conditions should receive the vaccine before they’re obligated to return in-person.

Resources for parents

Parents and guardians should contact their child’s education center to confirm the school’s plans for lessons in 2021.

MEP has created a Spanish-language website answering frequently asked questions, detailing protocols and guidelines, and providing other supplemental material related to the return to in-person classes. Click here to visit the Education Ministry’s coronavirus page.

Trending Now

Nicaragua Hosts Historic 2025 AmeriCup Basketball Tournament

The 2025 AmeriCup, the men’s basketball Copa América, tips off this Friday in Nicaragua, marking the most significant international sporting event in the country’s...

Panama Canal Warns of Traffic Decline as Economic Uncertainty Grows

The Panama Canal will take in about $400 million less in the next fiscal year due to a drop in ship traffic caused by...

Costa Rica National Parks to Measure Tourism Impact

Costa Rica will now be able to measure the impact of tourism in its national parks, thanks to innovative environmental technology from The NeverRest...

In Costa Rica, Rare White-Lipped Peccaries Still Survive

Today we meet the white-lipped peccary, a large animal that travels in large groups that has disappeared from a large part of its historical...

An Expat’s Life with a Rescue Dog in Costa Rica

For the past 15 months I have been the primary caretaker of a bona fide street dog, a barrio zaguate called Dorothy. My wife...

Costa Rica’s Role in US Deportation Drama with Salvadoran Migrant

A Salvadoran man at the center of a heated US immigration battle could end up in Costa Rica if he accepts a guilty plea,...
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