Thirty-five students from various Costa Rican secondary schools received gold, silver, bronze medals, and honorable mentions at the 28th Costa Rican Physics Olympiad (Olcofi). The event included participants from scientific, humanistic, public, and private institutions.
The annual Olympiad aims to promote scientific culture, technology, innovation, and stimulate physics learning among secondary school students. The award ceremony took place at the National University (UNA), bringing together students, families, teachers, and institutional representatives.
The competition featured several categories. In Category B, Ernesto Mora Fajardo and Yara Valverde Montenegro from Colegio Científico Costarricense de Cartago; Mathías Rojas Valverde from Colegio Científico Costarricense de San Carlos; and Julián Ramírez Aguilar from Colegio Científico Costarricense de San Pedro won gold medals. Ramírez Aguilar shared his experience: “Me gustó mucho este proceso porque la competencia en estas Olimpiadas de Física es muy ardua. Todos compiten muy bien, pero también son muy amigables. Entonces es una competencia que lo ayuda a uno a crecer y a seguir adelante.”
In Category A, Santiago Solano Salazar of Colegio Científico Costarricense de San Pedro; Felipe Alfaro Arguedas of Colegio Científico Bilingüe Reina de los Ángeles; and Andrea Ebanks Reyes of Colegio Científico Costarricense de Alajuela were awarded gold medals.
In the Advanced category, Andrés Zhen Wu of Colegio Bilingüe Reina de los Ángeles and Mateo Sancho Dive of Colegio Científico Costarricense de San Pedro received top honors.
During the ceremony it was emphasized that curiosity should be kept alive and scientific talent used for the benefit of the country.
The Olympiad is an academic competition that connects higher education with secondary education in physics.
Additionally, students from the Cabécar Indigenous Territory in Alto Chirripó have benefited academically following the construction of shelters for Liceo Rural Roca Quemada. There are also ongoing initiatives promoting entrepreneurship among primary and secondary students through cooperative projects organized by the Department of Business Management and Cooperative Education within the Ministry of Education (MEP).
Digital accessibility resources have been made available to support daily educational activities across Costa Rica’s national educational community.
Students at Colegio Redentorista San Alfonso in Alajuela recently undertook music lessons where they composed songs using digital technologies as part of their curriculum.
Costa Rica’s public and private schools commemorate National Flag Day each year by honoring the nation’s flag in ceremonies mandated by Law No. 768 since 1949. The first raising of Costa Rica’s national flag occurred on November 12, 1848 in what is now Central Park in San José under decree by José María Castro Madriz.
This year marks the 85th anniversary since religious education was reinstated in Costa Rica’s educational system under Law No. 21 enacted on November 10, 1940.
After school hours at Liceo San Rafael de Alajuela are filled with art and music activities for students.
Eighty-five primary and secondary students from Cartago who form part of the Regional Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert on November 25 at Teatro Mélico Salazar in San José as a tribute to Gerardo Ramírez and Los Hicsos celebrating their long musical careers.
Every year nationally there is School Day commemorating free compulsory primary education established in 1869—highlighting education as essential for democracy and culture—and celebrated according to Executive Decree No. 11 since 1953.
