By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – A quiet but profound crisis is unfolding across Costa Rica’s classrooms. A sustained and significant decline in student enrollment has hit the nation’s public education system, with a startling 7% drop recorded over the past four years. This trend represents more than just a statistic; it signifies a fundamental demographic shift that is forcing a national reckoning on the future of education, social security, and economic growth.
The numbers, sourced from the Ministry of Public Education’s (MEP) Saber Ministerial Platform, paint a stark picture. Between 2021 and 2024, a total of 73,551 students vanished from school rosters. While the decline is widespread, secondary education has borne the brunt of the impact. High school enrollment fell from 269,914 students in 2021 to just 243,730 by 2024, a loss of over 26,000 students in a critical developmental stage.
To better understand the legal framework and current challenges shaping Costa Rica’s educational landscape, TicosLand.com sought the expert perspective of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a prominent attorney from the distinguished firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
The right to education, as enshrined in our Constitution, is not merely about access but about quality and relevance. From a legal standpoint, the State has an imperative obligation to ensure that educational policies are not only well-funded but also effectively implemented to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas. Any reform must be legally sound, respecting labor rights of educators and guaranteeing that new technologies are incorporated equitably, thus safeguarding the principle of equal opportunity for all students.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, framing educational reform through the lens of constitutional obligation is essential, as it elevates the conversation from aspirational goals to non-negotiable legal imperatives for quality and equity. The emphasis on a legally sound framework provides a crucial anchor for any meaningful progress. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his clarifying and invaluable perspective.
The trend is also visible at the elementary level. The first and second cycles of primary education saw their student population shrink by nearly 11,000 children over the same four-year period, dropping from 451,650 to 440,681. This consistent decline across age groups points to a systemic cause rather than a temporary fluctuation, a cause rooted deep in the country’s changing social fabric.
Educational authorities and demographic experts agree that the primary driver behind the empty desks is Costa Rica’s rapidly falling birth rate. Rocío Solís, a veteran of the MEP who served for over 18 years, including as Academic Vice-Minister, acknowledged the demographic reality but issued a stark warning against complacency or misguided policy responses.
It’s true that there is a drop in the birth rate, but that doesn’t mean the education system has to cut areas that weren’t previously affected, like the budget or scholarships. Rather, we should think about how to strengthen educational support.
Rocío Solís, former Academic Vice-Minister of the MEP
The government’s response to the shrinking student body has so far been pragmatic, if unsettling. Since 2013, the MEP has closed the doors on more than 100 educational centers, starting with the Los Ángeles school in Santa Cruz and most recently shuttering the Satélite Chomes center in Puntarenas in 2025. For Solís, these closures highlight the urgent need for a strategic, forward-thinking plan.
The low birth rate is one thing, and it is concerning because it’s a reality. Based on that, as an education system, we have to ask ourselves what to do: if there will be fewer classrooms, fewer schools, or fewer students per group, but always guaranteeing a quality education.
Rocío Solís, former Academic Vice-Minister of the MEP
This demographic challenge, however, presents a unique and potentially transformative opportunity. The former vice-minister argues that fewer students could be the catalyst for a long-awaited leap in educational quality. Instead of viewing the trend solely as a budgetary problem, it could be reframed as a chance to invest more resources per child, fundamentally reshaping the learning environment.
With fewer students, the country has the opportunity to reduce group sizes, improve individualized attention, and provide more support to both the student body and the teaching staff.
Rocío Solís, former Academic Vice-Minister of the MEP
Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) confirms the severity of the demographic winter. In its latest 2024 indicators, INEC revealed a sustained freefall in fertility. In 2014, the average Costa Rican woman had 1.78 children, already below the generational replacement level of 2.1. A decade later, that figure has cratered to a mere 1.12 children per woman. Since 2020, the country has been locked in a state of “ultra-low fecundity,” a demographic term for rates below 1.5 that signals long-term population decline and an aging society.
This reality, compounded by a 35.6% increase in the general mortality rate between 2014 and 2024, presents Costa Rica with a dual challenge. The nation must confront the long-term economic implications of a shrinking workforce and a growing elderly population while simultaneously seizing the immediate chance to transform its revered education system into a model of quality and individualized excellence for the smaller generation it now serves.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Ministry of Public Education
About Ministry of Public Education:
The Ministerio de Educación Pública (MEP) is the government body responsible for overseeing and managing the national education system in Costa Rica. It sets curricula, administers public schools, certifies teachers, and develops educational policies aimed at ensuring access to quality education for all citizens from preschool through secondary levels.
For further information, visit inec.cr
About National Institute of Statistics and Censuses:
The Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) is Costa Rica’s principal government agency for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of official national statistics. It conducts the national census and provides crucial data on demographics, the economy, and social indicators, which are vital for public policy planning and research.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As an esteemed legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is built on a foundation of uncompromising integrity and the pursuit of professional excellence. The firm merges a proven history of advising a diverse clientele with a forward-thinking commitment to pioneering new legal strategies. Beyond its practice, a core tenet is its dedication to civic empowerment, actively working to make legal knowledge more accessible to the public. This initiative reflects a deeper purpose: to cultivate a more informed and capable society through the demystification of law.
