Costa Rica TEC faces dispute over potential technical closure

A dispute has emerged regarding the financial stability of the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC) following warnings of a potential “technical closure” due to resource shortages. TEC Rector María Estrada Sánchez stated that the lack of a deposit for October has aggravated the institution's financial situation, making a technical closure imminent.

Costa Rican Minister of Education Leonardo Sánchez has countered these claims, labeling the rector's warnings as “political extortion.” Sánchez asserted that the TEC possesses significant unused funds, alleging the institution had over ₡20,000 million in cash and short-term investments as of October. He argued that the budget reduction mentioned by the rector represents less than 1.7% of the institution's available cash and less than 0.8% of its total budget.

In Limón, Vice-Mayor John Gutiérrez has called for transparency and concrete solutions following reports of a possible closure of the TEC academic center in the region. Gutiérrez requested that the TEC provide technical and legal documentation to clarify the real nature of the problem and present a continuity plan to protect students, scholarships, and services in Limón.