WASHINGTON, D.C., December 6, 2024 – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved new funding to help Costa Rica improve the foundational learning, digital competencies, and employability skills of students in public primary and secondary schools administered by the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).
The “Costa Rica Results in Education” project will benefit one million students (51 percent girls) in preschool, primary, and secondary education, improving their learning outcomes and digital skills, and testing and grading systems. Thanks to the project, 90,000 teachers and administrative staff in the education system will have access to pedagogical platforms and close to 18,000 MEP employees will be able to use digital tools. In addition, approximately 180,000 students in technical programs and 50,000 Indigenous, migrant, and refugee students will benefit from these upgrades.
“Costa Rica needs an overhaul of its education system that will deliver a positive and sustainable impact on students, equipping them with the tools they need to navigate challenges in the job market, changes in digital technologies, and environmental sustainability. The World Bank’s support is a significant contribution to this much-needed process in the country,” said Finance Minister Nogui Acosta Jaén.
The project is expected to help students develop strong reading, comprehension, and numeracy skills, which are considered to be the building blocks for lifelong learning. In addition to focusing on reading and writing, the project provides for sustained investment in digital capabilities through platforms, learning management systems, connectivity, hardware, and on-site support.
Costa Rica has been a pioneer in the teaching of computer science since the 1980s, and the project will support the implementation of the National Program for Technological Preparedness (PNFT) to ensure that the country continues to be a world leader in teaching computational thinking. The PNFT covers four areas: Technological Adaptation, Algorithms and Programming, Physical Computation and Robotics, and Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Effective implementation of these programs, as well as the literacy programs, will be key to transforming education in Costa Rica.
“We are providing support to the people of Costa Rica through investments that improve opportunities for vulnerable children, youth, and families. This collaboration is key to paving the way for developing quality, inclusive, and accessible education for all and promoting the advancement and well-being of Costa Rican society,” noted Carine Clert, World Bank Country Manager for Costa Rica and El Salvador.
The project will be implemented by the MEP and was prepared in close coordination with another loan financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the context of the Memorandum of Understanding between the IDB and the World Bank Group, which aims to bridge the education digital divide prevalent in the region. Both multilateral institutions shared their technical analyses to ensure a seamless design of their literacy and PNFT programs.
The US$200 million operation, which is financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), is a variable rate loan with a 33.5-year maturity and a grace period of six years.
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