The Central Pacific Regional Education Directorate announced on Apr. 23 that its ‘Rescate’ project, implemented since 2025 in the night schools of Quepos, Jacó, and La Julieta, has helped reduce student exclusion rates from 3.5% to 2.2% between 2024 and 2025.
The initiative aims to support over 1,200 students—many of whom work during the day or are parents—by providing various forms of assistance such as community networks, tutoring programs, academic workshops, and extracurricular activities including sports. Randall Cordero, regional director of education for the area, said: “Involving different actors in the educational process of adults who for one reason or another left their studies is the secret to achieving these results; as DRE we are very satisfied to see people accompany, motivate and believe in others.”
Teachers play a key role by serving as mentors (‘padrinos’) for students returning to or remaining in school. Priscilla López Chacón, an eleventh-year student at Quepos Night School and captain of its futsal team, described how peer encouragement led her back to complete her education alongside her son: “For Priscilla godparents are the best support a person who studies at night can have because there is understanding and accompaniment; they are always there and she appreciates it.”
Giovanni Jiménez Marín teaches Spanish at Quepos Night School and acts as a mentor for students. He said: “I want to mention that football and extracurricular activities are a good element so that people who study at night stay in the system… For example last year we were champions… Anderson was motivated through sport to study better… Anderson wore his jersey both in class and on the field.” Jiménez recommends teachers serve as mentors by supporting students’ interests whether music or academics.
The announcement coincided with broader educational events including World Book Day celebrations on April 23—which promote reading—and invitations from Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Education for participation in national math olympiads.
