The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) has released its suggested list of school supplies and materials for the 2026 academic year. The list is available by educational level—preschool, primary, and secondary—on the official MEP website at www.mep.go.cr.
The items on the list are aligned with the curriculum for each subject area. Karolina Artavia Mendoza, Director of Curriculum Development, said: “We recommend that families review which supplies from the previous year can be reused for this school year.”
Among the recommendations to families purchasing new materials are comparing prices and quality, encouraging students to take care of their belongings, checking that products are in good condition before buying them, and remembering that supplies featuring popular characters may distract students.
For preschool education, each school selects appropriate materials together with families based on student needs and priorities. This selection should not create excessive financial burden for families.
Additionally, MEP’s Department of Electronic Documentation and Information (DDIE), part of the Directorate of Technological Resources in Education (DRTE), announced a new website at https://ddie.mep.go.cr/.
MEP has also invested in 19 schools that will participate in the National Sports Games Limón 2026. These schools were selected in collaboration with the Costa Rican Institute of Sport as part of a public-public partnership.
Online resources have been prepared by MEP for final-year primary and secondary students who will participate in February’s expanded call for the National Standardized Summative Test.
During school vacations from December 15, 2025 to February 13, 2026, public schools located in socially vulnerable areas across Costa Rica will keep their cafeterias open to serve students.
Each year since 2000, Costa Rica observes International Migrants Day as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The day aims to highlight international efforts to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms regardless of origin.
