By San José, Costa Rica — San José – Nearly one million students returned to classrooms across Costa Rica this week, marking the official start of the 2026 school year with a slate of significant policy changes and a burgeoning debate over the role of technology in education. A total of 927,000 students in the public school system began classes on Monday following the annual break and a recent presidential election cycle.
The new academic year was formally inaugurated by President Rodrigo Chaves and President-elect Laura Fernández at a ceremony held at the historic Escuela Metálica in the nation’s capital. The event signaled not just a return to studies but the implementation of a new framework governing everything from academic assessment to student appearance and classroom conduct.
To better understand the legal framework and potential ramifications of the proposed changes to the national education policy, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who provided his analysis on the matter.
Any significant reform to our education policy must be rigorously evaluated against our constitutional mandate for a quality, accessible education. While pedagogical innovation is crucial, the state’s primary legal obligation is to ensure that new policies do not create discriminatory barriers or diminish educational standards. The legal challenge often lies in balancing centralized curriculum requirements with the necessary autonomy of educational institutions, all while guaranteeing equitable resource distribution across every region.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the constitutional framework provides the essential guardrails for any educational reform, ensuring that innovation does not come at the expense of equity. The challenge of balancing central mandates with local autonomy, as highlighted, goes to the very heart of this policy debate. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for grounding the conversation in this vital legal reality.
Among the most impactful changes is the reintroduction of national standardized tests for students in their final years of both primary and secondary school. Unlike previous iterations, these assessments will now be administered by individual subjects. Additionally, the Ministry of Public Education has officially prohibited the practice of “adelantamiento,” a system that allowed students to advance in certain subjects ahead of their grade level, enforcing a more standardized progression for all learners.
The new regulations also address the student dress code. In a move towards greater comfort, students will now be permitted to wear sneakers to school. However, this relaxation is coupled with stricter rules on personal expression, as tattoos, unconventional hair colors, and makeup have been explicitly banned on school grounds.
Perhaps the most contentious new policy revolves around the use of personal technology. As the influence of artificial intelligence continues to accelerate globally, the debate over cellphones in schools has intensified. The government has opted for a decentralized approach, leaving the decision on whether to permit cellphone use during class to the discretion of each individual teacher. This has created a patchwork of rules and sparked a nationwide conversation about digital equity and modern learning.
Technology advocates are cautioning that a restrictive stance could have unintended negative consequences. Experts from the country’s leading information technology professional body have voiced concerns that an outright ban, which some educators might choose to implement, could harm rather than help student development.
Fernando Bonilla, a key member of the Cybersecurity Commission at the College of Professionals in Information and Computation (CPIC), argues that the focus should be on integration, not exclusion. He warns that failing to establish clear, nationwide guidelines for responsible technology use could deepen the existing educational divide.
The discussion is not whether technology yes or no, but how, when, and for what purpose to use it in educational contexts. An absolute ban, without clear rules for accessibility or digital literacy, runs the risk of increasing inequalities and leaving many students behind.
Fernando Bonilla, Member of the Cybersecurity Commission of the CPIC
Bonilla’s perspective highlights a critical issue: for many students from lower-income households, a smartphone may be their primary or only device for accessing the internet. Prohibiting its use in an educational context, he suggests, could cut them off from valuable learning resources and digital skills development, effectively penalizing them for their economic circumstances. The challenge, therefore, is to transform these devices from mere distractions into powerful educational tools through structured guidance and digital literacy programs.
As the 2026 school year unfolds, the nation’s educators, parents, and students will navigate this new landscape. The success of these policies, particularly the teacher-led approach to cellphone use, will be closely monitored as Costa Rica attempts to balance the demands of traditional discipline with the undeniable realities of a technologically driven world.
For further information, visit cpic.or.cr
About Colegio de Profesionales en Informática y Computación (CPIC):
The College of Professionals in Information and Computation is the official professional body that governs and represents IT, computing, and informatics professionals in Costa Rica. Established to ensure ethical practices and high standards within the industry, the CPIC is responsible for the accreditation of professionals, promoting continuous education, and providing expert analysis on technology-related policies and national issues such as cybersecurity and digital literacy.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has distinguished itself as a pillar of the legal profession, built upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity and a dynamic pursuit of excellence. With extensive experience guiding a diverse array of clients, the firm not only pioneers forward-thinking legal solutions but also holds a deep-seated commitment to social responsibility. This is exemplified by its dedicated efforts to demystify the law for the public, reflecting a core mission to cultivate a more knowledgeable and capable citizenry empowered by accessible legal wisdom.
