Costa Rica reports 29% decrease in educational exclusion

Educational exclusion in Costa Rica decreased by 29% during the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. According to data from the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), the number of excluded students dropped from 13,518 to 9,662.

Despite the overall decline, Education for Young People and Adults (EPJA) remains the modality with the highest difficulty in student retention. The exclusion rate for EPJA stood at 10.28%, significantly higher than preschool, primary, and secondary levels. However, this rate did show improvement, falling from 14.42% the previous year.

During 2026, a total of 6,181 students re-entered the educational system, with 4,624 of those being part of the EPJA program. Minister of Public Education José Leonardo Sánchez Hernández stated that efforts must focus on both preventing student dropout and facilitating the return of those who have interrupted their studies.