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Politics/ Economics in Costa Rica
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Resource Utilization
What will be produced with your country's resources?
Several products are produced in Costa Rica. Some of these items include bananas, pineapples, coffee, sugar, chocolate, and beef (The World Factbook: COSTA RICA, n.d.). Additionally, “high value-added goods and services, including medical devices” and “a variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products” are being manufactured in the country (The World Factbook: COSTA RICA, n.d.).
How will these goods be produced?
All agricultural items are grown at a designated location in the country until they are ready to be harvested. From there, they will be picked, cleaned up, and packaged for shipment. When considering the other goods and services, like medical equipment and other various kinds of technological items, they are manufactured and packaged in factories around Costa Rica.
Who will use these goods?
Some of these goods will be utilized by the citizens of Costa Rica, but a majority of the products will be shipped out of the country and used by other people around the world.
Will these goods be exported?
Yes, these items are some of the main exports that come from Costa Rica and are distributed to countries all around the globe.
Reference
The World Factbook: COSTA RICA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html
Several products are produced in Costa Rica. Some of these items include bananas, pineapples, coffee, sugar, chocolate, and beef (The World Factbook: COSTA RICA, n.d.). Additionally, “high value-added goods and services, including medical devices” and “a variety of industrial and specialized agricultural products” are being manufactured in the country (The World Factbook: COSTA RICA, n.d.).
How will these goods be produced?
All agricultural items are grown at a designated location in the country until they are ready to be harvested. From there, they will be picked, cleaned up, and packaged for shipment. When considering the other goods and services, like medical equipment and other various kinds of technological items, they are manufactured and packaged in factories around Costa Rica.
Who will use these goods?
Some of these goods will be utilized by the citizens of Costa Rica, but a majority of the products will be shipped out of the country and used by other people around the world.
Will these goods be exported?
Yes, these items are some of the main exports that come from Costa Rica and are distributed to countries all around the globe.
Reference
The World Factbook: COSTA RICA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.html
Government
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Education
Education is a topic that is universally discussed amongst numerous countries across the globe for its importance in the lives of the people, as well as the world that they live in. In Costa Rica, this is no different. This report will share numerous facts and statistics related to the education system in Costa Rica, while addressing how the system aligns with the three priorities set forth through the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education. The priorities emphasize the significance of a child going to school, receiving a proper education, and learning about how to create a more peaceful and accepting society (Priorities, n.d.).
When looking at the education system in Costa Rica, there are many elements that need to be considered. An important element is how the school system is broken down by the age of the students. When a student is between four and five years old, they are enrolled in pre-primary education, and from ages six through eleven, they are enrolled in primary education (Costa Rica, n.d.). From the ages of 12 and 16, a student is in secondary education, and at the age of 17 until the age of 21, they are considered a tertiary education student (Costa Rica, n.d.). Also, when looking at the numbers related to the amount of young people and their schooling, it is important to consider that there are 1,355,355 people that are 21 years old and younger, making up approximately 28% of the total population (Costa Rica, n.d.). This information can also be found in Figure 1. This number is to help put the statistics mentioned in this report into a realistic perspective.
The first priority that the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education mentions is the importance of ensuring that all children are enrolled in primary school. In Costa Rica, this seems to be evolving into a nationwide issue. In 2014, 15,638 children were not enrolled in school (Costa Rica, n.d.). This is a massive increase from the 2,460 children that were not enrolled in 2011 (Costa Rica, n.d.). However, this trend is very different when looking at the number of adolescents not enrolled in school in 2014, which was 13,556 (Costa Rica, n.d.). This number decreased from the 19,291 adolescents not enrolled in school (Costa Rica, n.d.). All of this data can also be found in Figure 2. One can think that because of the number of adolescents not enrolled in school, many of the children once unenrolled in school reenrolled as they became adolescents. Additionally, over 4,000 schools, both public and private, can be found in all parts of Costa Rica, allowing more options for families as to where their child can go to school (Education in Costa Rica, n.d.). These are a few of the examples of how the country is providing the most opportunity for every child to attend primary school.
Another priority stated by the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education involves the quality of education that students should receive upon attending school (Priorities, n.d.). A high-quality education can be determined through many factors. One of these factors would be the amount of funding put towards education. In Costa Rica, $3,798.12 was allocated to each student in primary education during the year 2014 (Costa Rica, n.d.). This was up nearly $2,000 from the amount of $1,538.91 that was contributed to each primary education student in 2006 (Costa Rica, n.d.). This information can be seen in Figure 3 and means that the government is allotting more money to the education system, which can only improve the quality of what the schools can offer their students. Another way that the country is working to provide a quality education to the students is by hiring enough teachers to keep the teacher/ student ratio low. In 2006, there was one teacher to every 19.71 primary education students, but in 2014, there was one teacher to every 13.23 primary education students (Costa Rica, n.d.). Because the ratio is lower, it allows for the teachers to provide the students with the necessary one-on-one time that they need in order to be successful. These are a few of the many actions that Costa Rica is taking to provide their students with a valuable education.
Lastly, the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education believes that “education must fully assume its central role in helping people to forge more just, peaceful, tolerant and inclusive societies. It must give people the understanding, skills and values they need to cooperate in resolving the interconnected challenges of the 21st century” (Priorities, n.d.). In Costa Rica, “the literacy rate is 95 percent for everyone over the age of 15” (Education in Costa Rica, n.d.). This means that a majority of the people are able to read, write, and communicate with others, allowing them to form relationships with one another and work together to solve problems amongst other things. “Costa Rica’s schools have a simple goal: to create a well-educated populace that will one day improve their national (and even global) lot. It’s not about individualism and getting ahead. It’s about equipping students with the skills to succeed and make real improvements in the lives of the rest of humanity” (Education in Costa Rica, n.d.). This is the definition of the priority previously mentioned, therefore, Costa Rica’s school system is excelling in this area.
Costa Rica focuses on education because they believe that what they are teaching their young people now is what will lead their country in the future. Frankly, this is an exceptional mentality to follow. When considering the three priorities developed by the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education, Costa Rica is meeting or exceeding the criteria when considering the number of students attending primary school, the value of education being achieved by the students, and the skills that the students are being taught to help create a more prosperous future for the world.
References
Costa Rica. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=CRI
Education in Costa Rica. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.anywhere.com/costa-rica/sustainable/social/education
Priorities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/gefi/priorities/
When looking at the education system in Costa Rica, there are many elements that need to be considered. An important element is how the school system is broken down by the age of the students. When a student is between four and five years old, they are enrolled in pre-primary education, and from ages six through eleven, they are enrolled in primary education (Costa Rica, n.d.). From the ages of 12 and 16, a student is in secondary education, and at the age of 17 until the age of 21, they are considered a tertiary education student (Costa Rica, n.d.). Also, when looking at the numbers related to the amount of young people and their schooling, it is important to consider that there are 1,355,355 people that are 21 years old and younger, making up approximately 28% of the total population (Costa Rica, n.d.). This information can also be found in Figure 1. This number is to help put the statistics mentioned in this report into a realistic perspective.
The first priority that the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education mentions is the importance of ensuring that all children are enrolled in primary school. In Costa Rica, this seems to be evolving into a nationwide issue. In 2014, 15,638 children were not enrolled in school (Costa Rica, n.d.). This is a massive increase from the 2,460 children that were not enrolled in 2011 (Costa Rica, n.d.). However, this trend is very different when looking at the number of adolescents not enrolled in school in 2014, which was 13,556 (Costa Rica, n.d.). This number decreased from the 19,291 adolescents not enrolled in school (Costa Rica, n.d.). All of this data can also be found in Figure 2. One can think that because of the number of adolescents not enrolled in school, many of the children once unenrolled in school reenrolled as they became adolescents. Additionally, over 4,000 schools, both public and private, can be found in all parts of Costa Rica, allowing more options for families as to where their child can go to school (Education in Costa Rica, n.d.). These are a few of the examples of how the country is providing the most opportunity for every child to attend primary school.
Another priority stated by the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education involves the quality of education that students should receive upon attending school (Priorities, n.d.). A high-quality education can be determined through many factors. One of these factors would be the amount of funding put towards education. In Costa Rica, $3,798.12 was allocated to each student in primary education during the year 2014 (Costa Rica, n.d.). This was up nearly $2,000 from the amount of $1,538.91 that was contributed to each primary education student in 2006 (Costa Rica, n.d.). This information can be seen in Figure 3 and means that the government is allotting more money to the education system, which can only improve the quality of what the schools can offer their students. Another way that the country is working to provide a quality education to the students is by hiring enough teachers to keep the teacher/ student ratio low. In 2006, there was one teacher to every 19.71 primary education students, but in 2014, there was one teacher to every 13.23 primary education students (Costa Rica, n.d.). Because the ratio is lower, it allows for the teachers to provide the students with the necessary one-on-one time that they need in order to be successful. These are a few of the many actions that Costa Rica is taking to provide their students with a valuable education.
Lastly, the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education believes that “education must fully assume its central role in helping people to forge more just, peaceful, tolerant and inclusive societies. It must give people the understanding, skills and values they need to cooperate in resolving the interconnected challenges of the 21st century” (Priorities, n.d.). In Costa Rica, “the literacy rate is 95 percent for everyone over the age of 15” (Education in Costa Rica, n.d.). This means that a majority of the people are able to read, write, and communicate with others, allowing them to form relationships with one another and work together to solve problems amongst other things. “Costa Rica’s schools have a simple goal: to create a well-educated populace that will one day improve their national (and even global) lot. It’s not about individualism and getting ahead. It’s about equipping students with the skills to succeed and make real improvements in the lives of the rest of humanity” (Education in Costa Rica, n.d.). This is the definition of the priority previously mentioned, therefore, Costa Rica’s school system is excelling in this area.
Costa Rica focuses on education because they believe that what they are teaching their young people now is what will lead their country in the future. Frankly, this is an exceptional mentality to follow. When considering the three priorities developed by the UN Secretary- General’s Global Initiative on Education, Costa Rica is meeting or exceeding the criteria when considering the number of students attending primary school, the value of education being achieved by the students, and the skills that the students are being taught to help create a more prosperous future for the world.
References
Costa Rica. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.uis.unesco.org/DataCentre/Pages/country-profile.aspx?code=CRI
Education in Costa Rica. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.anywhere.com/costa-rica/sustainable/social/education
Priorities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/gefi/priorities/