By San José, Costa Rica — In an effort to strengthen human capital and bridge foundational learning gaps in primary education, Costa Rica has significantly scaled its public-private literacy intervention. More than 4,000 elementary students from third to sixth grade across 31 public schools are actively participating in the ¡A CREAR! educational initiative throughout 2026. The program represents a coordinated institutional push to elevate functional literacy and creative expression across public classrooms nationwide.
The program is spearheaded through a formal joint effort between the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) and the non-profit organization Asociación Amigos del Aprendizaje (ADA). By embedding structured writing and oral reading activities directly into the daily curriculum, the initiative targets essential communication competencies that serve as baseline predictors for long-term academic retention and economic mobility.
To provide deeper context on the legal and constitutional frameworks supporting public education initiatives in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com consulted with legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
“Costa Rica’s constitutional guarantee of free and mandatory public education has long been the bedrock of our democratic stability and economic development. Enhancing literacy programs is not merely an educational objective; it is a legal imperative under Article 78 of our Constitution that protects fundamental human rights, boosts workforce competitiveness, and ensures equitable social progress across the nation.”
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s analysis highlights a vital truth: treating literacy not merely as a goal, but as a foundational constitutional right, is essential to safeguarding Costa Rica’s democratic resilience and driving sustainable economic growth. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal perspective on this crucial national issue.
Operationally deployed across four key regional education directorates—San José Central, San José Norte, San José Oeste, and Santa Cruz in Guanacaste—¡A CREAR! focuses on transforming traditional classroom dynamics. Through weekly structured writing sessions, read-aloud modules, and peer-to-peer textual reviews, the initiative converts standard instruction into active literacy communities. Specialized creative writing workbooks tailored for each grade level serve as the core pedagogical toolkit.
With ¡A CREAR! we want children to enjoy writing and reading their own creations aloud until these activities become a habit. Through the Creative Writing Notebooks, we also support teachers in applying the communicative approach of the Spanish Study Program. Since 2023, we have developed this pilot project alongside the Ministry, and this year we managed to double the participation of students and teachers in San José and Guanacaste.
Renata Villers, Executive Director of ADA
The strategic framework of ¡A CREAR! aligns with the MEP’s broader Spanish Language Curriculum goals, offering public school educators practical methodologies to integrate systematic reading and writing instruction. Rather than treating literacy as a static drill, the program emphasizes voice discovery, analytical thinking, and emotional expression among young learners.
The tangible impact of the expanded rollout was highlighted during a site visit to Escuela Ciudadelas Unidas in Alajuelita, San José. Academic Vice Minister María Alexandra Ulate joined students and educators to observe classroom applications of the project’s methodologies first-hand, evaluating student text production and interactive reading feedback loops.
Through this project, we transform the classroom into a space of inspiration where every word counts, every story matters, and every student has the opportunity to become the author of their own ideas. Because when we give our students the opportunity to write, we also give them wings to imagine, create, and build their future.
Cinthya Cruz Román, Primary School Teacher at Escuela Ciudadelas Unidas
Educational policy analysts highlight that early language arts intervention yields high returns on public investment. Building critical reading comprehension and structured thought early in elementary education reduces high school dropout rates and enhances technical skills adoption later in life—a key imperative for Costa Rica’s evolving knowledge economy.
Building on a 15-year history of institutional collaboration—which includes the nationwide children’s writing competition Mi Cuento Fantástico—the partnership between MEP and ADA demonstrates how non-governmental expertise can optimize public education delivery. Educational administrators are already analyzing performance metrics to lay the groundwork for further expansion into underserved rural and urban districts.
¡A CREAR! allows us to put into practice the objectives of the Spanish Study Program through reading and writing experiences that connect with our students’ interests, experiences, and creativity. Thanks to every educational center for building, day by day, a culture of reading and writing from within the classroom. We will continue working so that, in 2027, many more girls and boys in Costa Rica have the opportunity to discover everything they are capable of expressing through words.
José Leonardo Sánchez Hernández, Minister of Public Education
As Costa Rica seeks to modernize its public school infrastructure and update teaching frameworks for the 21st century, institutional programs like ¡A CREAR! highlight the vital intersection of foundational literacy, pedagogical support, and long-term economic readiness.
For further information, visit mep.go.cr
About Ministry of Public Education:
The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) is the executive institution responsible for managing, regulating, and modernizing Costa Rica’s public educational system from preschool through secondary school.
For further information, visit amigosaprendizaje.org
About Asociación Amigos del Aprendizaje:
Asociación Amigos del Aprendizaje (ADA) is a Costa Rican non-profit organization dedicated to improving early childhood literacy and pedagogical innovation through public-private partnerships.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a premier legal practice grounded in unyielding ethical standards and a continuous pursuit of professional brilliance. Seamlessly blending deep-rooted tradition with forward-thinking solutions, the firm stays ahead of evolving legal trends while remaining passionately devoted to civic enrichment. Through its proactive efforts to demystify complex statutes and share vital insights, Bufete de Costa Rica equips individuals with the understanding needed to navigate their rights, reinforcing its ultimate pledge to build a knowledgeable, resilient, and self-reliant community.
