Professional technical schools in Costa Rica receive advanced technology to enhance agricultural and livestock education

San José, 22 October 2024 (IICA) - A total of 19 professional technical schools (CTP) in Costa Rica, which offer specializations in agricultural and livestock production, will receive new technological tools that will enable them, through their pedagogical strategies, to promote the interest of younger generations more effectively, including women, in economic activities related to the agricultural sector.
 
These educational centers received donations of equipment based on their specific needs, including 14 drones, 14 moisture sensors, 14 compaction sensors, and 26 GPS devices, with a total investment of US$179,452. This is part of the conclusion of the project "Relevance of Secondary Education in Science and the Environment in Rural Agricultural Communities of Costa Rica."
 
The project, which lasted 48 months, received the technical and financial support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through the Poverty Reduction Program of the Japan Special Fund (JPO), and was executed in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Microsoft, and the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) of Costa Rica. The equipment was delivered at IICA's Central Headquarters during the closing event of the initiative, which was attended by representatives of these entities, as well as directors, teachers, and students from various educational centers.
 
The CTPs benefiting from the technological equipment are Pejibaye, Platanares, and José Daniel Flores Zavaleta in the province of San José; Talamanca and Batán in the province of Limón; Corredores, Umberto Melloni Campanini, Osa, Buenos Aires, and Cóbano in the province of Puntarenas; Pital, Guatuso, La Fortuna, Los Chiles, Santa Rosa de Pocosol, Upala, and Zarcero in the province of Alajuela; and 27 de Abril and Carrillo in the province of Guanacaste.
 
“The use of advanced technologies will make a difference in how our students engage with agriculture; each educational center will make effective use of the equipment. This project has been an opportunity to learn and dream; we have planted the seeds of knowledge and innovation, and I am confident that our students will reap the rewards, and the impact of our work will be seen in future generations and communities, and in a more sustainable and prosperous future,” commented Joyce Mejías, Head of the Technical Programs Department at MEP.
 
“We need stronger, more relevant, and committed educational systems that understand we must create better professionals and citizens to support the transformation that agriculture is undergoing—an agriculture that needs to be more sustainable, competitive, and resilient, with new technologies that become opportunities for our farmers and rural populations. It is essential to continue with projects like this, and to have IICA’s support to dream of new initiatives,” added Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

“Necesitamos sistemas educativos más fuertes, pertinentes y comprometidos, que entiendan que tenemos que generar mejores profesionales y ciudadanos que acompañen el proceso de transformación que atraviesa la agricultura, que tiene que ser más sostenible, competitiva, resiliente, con nuevas tecnologías que se transformen en oportunidades para nuestros agricultores y nuestros habitantes de las zonas rurales. Es necesario seguir con este tipo de proyectos y cuenten con el IICA para ya desde hoy soñar con nuevas iniciativas”, complementó Manuel Otero, Director General del IICA.

With the delivery of this technology, along with teaching materials, the CTPs will have the capacity to incorporate modern tools into their curricula, giving students the opportunity to develop practical skills in precision technology use, which will be essential for the future of the agricultural sector in Costa Rica. These tools will allow for the optimization of processes such as soil measurement, crop analysis, and water resource management, contributing to more efficient and sustainable agriculture.

Project Scope
 
The project focused on the design and pilot implementation of a pedagogical approach in biological, agricultural, and environmental sciences aimed at secondary education in agricultural areas. It also sought to promote interest in professional agricultural careers to address the needs of rural realities, increase the inclusion of women, and boost the profitability of agriculture.
 
“Through this project, we expanded opportunities for young people from different regions of the country with an inclusive approach, increasing the enrollment of women in the agricultural and livestock production specialization by 6%, with a view to bridging existing gender gaps in scientific careers. By strengthening students' capabilities with cutting-edge knowledge and technology, we are also driving the country's sustainable development,” highlighted Isabel Granada, Head of Operations at the IDB in Costa Rica.
 
The initiative was carried out within the framework of the new curriculum for agricultural and livestock production specializations of MEP.
 
“It is very significant to be part of an initiative that supported policies aimed at ensuring high-quality education. We were inspired by the possibility of creating a strong educational articulation in which technologies are instrumental for the skills that students will need in the future. If students are capable of embracing them during their studies, they will achieve dreams and transform realities. We celebrate this type of innovation and inclusion, and the opportunity to envision an education for the region that prepares students for the future,” added Mariana Maggio, Head of Academic Programs for Latin America at Microsoft.
 
The project outcomes included the development of teaching materials focused on MEP-prioritized topics such as soils, agricultural production systems, micropropagation, precision agriculture, carbon neutrality, the Internet of Everything, soft skills, and gender. Additionally, 46 capacity-building workshops were held on soils and carbon neutrality, along with an experimental evaluation.
 
This experimental evaluation involved 1,634 students—968 males and 666 females—and 61 teachers who guided the process across 39 CTPs offering agricultural and livestock production programs, which were among the beneficiaries of the project initiatives. Additionally, there were training sessions on digital skills, computational thinking, programming, and drone use applied to agriculture, which took place in seven educational centers and involved 98 students and 8 teachers.
 
Furthermore, opportunities for teacher development were provided through IICA’s E-learning platform, and rural teachers were encouraged to participate in the National Robotics Olympiad and IICA’s Digital Agriculture Week. Additionally, two teachers, one from San Carlos and another from Limón, won IICA scholarships to pursue a postgraduate degree in Digital Agriculture at the University of Córdoba, Spain.

More information:
Karen Montiel, IICA Technical Specialist in charge of the project.
karen.montiel@iica.int