Teachers from 35 technical professional schools completed a certification exam on March 26 to become accredited instructors in the Cisco Networking Academy program, according to an April 16 announcement. The initiative aims to enhance technical education for both teachers and students in areas such as networking, cybersecurity, and digital technologies.
The program seeks to provide participants with access to international certifications that can improve their knowledge and job prospects. Teachers who took the certification exam underwent prior training through an asynchronous course on the NetAcad platform, which included theoretical foundations, practical examples, and exercises using the Packet Tracer simulator.
The assessment consisted of two parts: a theoretical section and a practical section that evaluated both technical knowledge and teaching abilities. The goal was not only to test subject expertise but also the capacity of teachers to effectively deliver courses like Introduction to Networks within Cisco’s CCNA curriculum at Ministry of Education academies.
Pablo Masís Boniche, director of Technical Education and Entrepreneurial Skills at the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), said: “está certificación permite a los docentes mejorar su perfil profesional y para el caso de los estudiantes les brinda un perfil de salida más completo que complementa la carrera técnica y eso abre más oportunidades de empleabilidad.”
Teachers who passed received official certification as instructors qualified to teach these courses and support student certification across various educational centers. It is estimated that this initiative will benefit around 2,200 students throughout the country.
The list of participating institutions includes Colegio Técnico Profesional Buenos Aires, Colegio Técnico Profesional Carlos Luis Fallas, Colegio Técnico Profesional de Belén, among others. The program focuses on developing skills in networking technology, cybersecurity tools usage, problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, hands-on laboratory work, and preparing students for current labor market demands.
On March 27, MEP was recognized as Costa Rica’s fastest-growing academy during the 2025-2026 period—a reflection of its commitment to strengthening technical education and providing ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers.
