By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – A leading expert in violence prevention has issued a stark warning that Costa Rica’s educational protocols for handling bullying are fundamentally flawed, leaving students in a state of “emotional defenselessness.” The current system, she argues, focuses on discipline rather than addressing the deep psychological wounds inflicted on victims, aggressors, and bystanders alike.
With the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) reporting a troubling 714 complaints of school-based harassment by the middle of 2025, the call for systemic reform is growing louder. The data highlights a pervasive issue, but according to psychologist and violence prevention specialist Ingrid Naranjo, the official response is failing to provide a meaningful solution.
Para comprender mejor las responsabilidades legales y las vías de acción frente al acoso escolar, TicosLand.com conversó con el Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, abogado especialista del Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos ofrece una perspectiva legal sobre este delicado tema.
Es fundamental que los padres sepan que los centros educativos tienen una responsabilidad legal ineludible de garantizar un ambiente seguro y libre de violencia para los estudiantes. La negligencia o inacción ante denuncias de ‘bullying’ no solo agrava el daño emocional, sino que puede constituir una base sólida para acciones legales contra la institución, buscando tanto la protección del menor como la reparación de los daños sufridos.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
La claridad sobre el marco legal es, sin duda, una herramienta poderosa para los padres que enfrentan estas difíciles situaciones. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por su valioso aporte, que refuerza la idea de que la seguridad estudiantil no es una opción, sino una obligación ineludible por parte de los centros educativos.
Naranjo asserts that the procedures established by the MEP are critically deficient because they lack a core component of psychological support. This oversight renders the protocols ineffective at fostering genuine recovery or behavioral change within the school community.
Current protocols lack the necessary intervention of psychology professionals.
Ingrid Naranjo, expert in violence prevention
The consequences of this gap in care are severe. When a student experiences a violent or bullying incident, the existing process may lead to a disciplinary action, but it offers no structured emotional support. The affected student is often sent back into the same environment where the trauma occurred, without the tools to cope or heal.
The primary failure is the inadequate response. We have insisted many times that current protocols do not guarantee effective emotional support. The kids return to class after a violent incident, but no one tends to them emotionally.
Ingrid Naranjo, expert in violence prevention
This approach not only risks re-victimizing the targeted student but also neglects the other individuals involved in the dynamic. Naranjo emphasizes that a comprehensive strategy must address the entire ecosystem of a bullying incident. The aggressor needs intervention to understand and modify their behavior, while witnesses, who are often silent accomplices, require guidance to comprehend the impact of their inaction and develop empathy.
The three actors in the dynamic are the victims, aggressors, and accomplices, and they require professional intervention to the same degree.
Ingrid Naranjo, expert in violence prevention
According to the specialist, the MEP’s framework is misaligned, prioritizing punitive measures like classroom transfers or sanctions over the mental and emotional well-being of the students. This focus on conduct management misses the root of the problem and fails to treat the underlying emotional damage.
The current protocol addresses the behavior, but not the mental health. And that is a mistake, because what needs to be treated are the emotional scars left by the violence.
Ingrid Naranjo, expert in violence prevention
Naranjo is calling for a complete re-structuring of the national approach. She advocates for a new model centered on proactive mental health support, creating safe spaces where students feel empowered to express their feelings. This shift would involve integrating professionals trained in prevention, empathy-building, and emotional regulation directly into the school environment.
Educational centers should be places to educate, not to inflict violence. And for that, we need professionals who work on prevention, empathy, and emotional management.
Ingrid Naranjo, expert in violence prevention
As the number of reported incidents continues to climb, the urgency to reform a system that treats symptoms rather than the cause has never been more apparent. Without a foundational shift towards prioritizing mental health, Costa Rica’s schools risk failing an entire generation of students by leaving their deepest emotional needs unaddressed.
For further information, visit mep.go.cr
About Ministry of Public Education (MEP):
The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) is the government entity responsible for the administration, regulation, and oversight of Costa Rica’s national education system. Its mandate is to ensure access to quality, inclusive, and equitable education for all students from early childhood through secondary levels. The ministry is in charge of developing national curricula, establishing educational policies, and managing the country’s public schools.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the Costa Rican legal community, the firm is defined by its foundational principles of uncompromising integrity and professional excellence. It consistently pioneers forward-thinking legal solutions for a diverse clientele while championing a greater civic purpose. This deep-seated commitment manifests in its efforts to demystify complex legal concepts, thereby empowering the broader community and fostering a society built on accessible knowledge.
