Alejandra Gutiérrez Vargas has been appointed as the new Vice Minister of Institutional Planning and Regional Coordination at the Ministry of Public Education (MEP). Gutiérrez holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration and has experience across all levels of the education system. Her background includes training in preschool and primary education, as well as work as a university professor, where she contributed to the development of new professionals in the sector.
Her career at MEP includes roles such as preschool and primary teacher, director of educational centers, school circuit supervisor, and since 2014, Regional Director of Education for Heredia. In her most recent position, she led efforts characterized by timely management and consistent positive results for local educational communities.
Gutiérrez is recognized for her humanistic view on education. She sees the educational process as comprehensive support, considering each student as an individual with unique values and potential. She believes that teaching should go beyond academics to address emotional, social, and ethical aspects of childhood. According to her perspective, when teachers recognize this human complexity, meaningful learning can take place.
Her understanding of the education system—from classroom experience to regional management—shapes her approach to her new role. She aims to strengthen institutional processes so that every student can fully develop their potential.
She expressed her commitment upon taking up the new position: “Each student possesses a unique light. Our duty is to build conditions so that light grows, guided by our values, our faith and our commitment to God and Costa Rican education.”
In related developments within Costa Rica’s education sector:
– Over 12,700 primary and secondary students are participating in the national stage of the Festival Estudiantil de las Artes (FEA), held at Parque Diversiones.
– The upcoming graduation ceremony at Escuela José Ana Marín will see 146 students from sixth grade, ninth year, and high school receive their completion certificates.
– Eighty-two students were awarded medals or honorable mentions in the Costa Rican Mathematics Olympiad for Primary Education (OLCOMEP).
– Ninety-two young people stood out for their performance in the thirty-seventh edition of the Costa Rican Mathematics Olympiad in Secondary Education (OLCOMA).
– The Western Regional Directorate hosted 45 educators from Guatemala’s Ministry of Education who visited to share classroom experiences and pedagogical practices.
– Educator Selma Rojas Delgado received the Medal for Merit in Peace and Democracy from Costa Rica’s government for significant contributions to peace and democratic consolidation.
– The San Roque de Grecia educational community emphasized collective responsibility for improving their high school’s infrastructure.
– More than 500 students and over 400 teachers participated in Project ¡Qué Éxito!, with distinguished participants recognized at an event on November 28 at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
