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THE EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEMS OF SELECTED
CENTRAL AMERICAN
COUNTRIES: COSTA RICA,
HONDURAS, AND PANAMÁ
Kathleen T. Freeman, International Consultants of Delaware
AACRAO National Conference 2012
COSTA RICA
República de Costa Rica
Population: 4,576,562
Official language: Spanish
Other languages: Boruca,
Bribri, Creole
Literacy rate: 94.9%
Number of students in the
U.S.: 1,105 (1.5% increase)
COSTA RICA – EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Ministerio de Educación Pública (Ministry of
Public Education)
Supervises primary and secondary schools, and
parauniversities
Licenses private schools
Public and private schools at all levels
Free and compulsory through Grade 9
COSTA RICA – GENERAL BASIC EDUCATION
Educación General Básica (General Basic Education)
Begin at age 6
Three cycles (I Ciclo, II Ciclo, III Ciclo)
Escuela Primaria (Primary School)
6 years/I Ciclo and II Ciclo
Diploma de Conclusión de Enseñaza Primaria (Diploma of End of Primary Education) awarded at end of 2nd cycle
Colegio/Liceo (Lower Secondary School)
3 years/III Ciclo
Academic and technical options
Certificado de Conclusion de Estudios de Educación General Básica (Certificate of End of General Basic Studies)
COSTA RICA – DIVERSIFIED EDUCATION
Educación Diversificada (Diversified Education) –
IV Ciclo
Upper secondary school
Offered at colegios, liceos, and night school
Three streams: academic (2 years), artistic (2
years), and technical (3 years – agriculture,
business, industrial studies)
Common classes in the first year
COSTA RICA – DIVERSIFIED EDUCATION
Diplomas awarded:
Diploma de Estudios de Educación Diversificada (Diploma of Diversified Education Studies) – academic and artistic streams
comparable to completion of senior high school in the United States
Diploma de Estudios de Educación Diversificada y Título de Tecnico Medio (Diploma of Diversified Education Studies and Professional Title of Mid-Level Technician) – technical stream
comparable to completion of a vocational or other specialized high school curriculum in the United States
COSTA RICA – POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Non-university education - Educación Superior
Parauniversitaria (Parauniversity Higher Education)
Established in 1980
6 public parauniversities
42 private parauniversities
2 – 3 years/60 – 90 credits
Business, industrial and technical studies
COSTA RICA – POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Diploma awarded:
Tecnico Superior (Higher Level Technician)
comparable to completion of two to three years of
university study in the United States. Credit may be
awarded on a course-by-course basis
COSTA RICA – UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
4 public universities
34 private universities (first permitted in 1997)
Pregrado (pre-university)
60 – 90 credits (2-3 years)
Tecnico Superior (Higher Level Technician) / Diplomado
(Diplomate) / Asociado (Associate)
comparable to completion of two to three years of
university study in the United States. Credit may be awarded
on a course-by-course basis
COSTA RICA – UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
Grado (University level degree)
Bachiller Universitario/BU (University Baccalaureate)
120 – 144 credits
May continue into graduate program if in same field
Can teach at university level
comparable to a bachelor’s degree awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States.
Licenciado/Licenciatura (Licentiate)
30 – 36 credits after a Bachiller Universitario
Usually awarded professional fields (medicine, law, etc.)
comparable to a bachelor’s degree awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States.
COSTA RICA – UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
Postgrado/Posgrado (Graduate level degree)
Maestría/Master (Master)
60 – 72 credits after a Bachiller Universitario
Research and defense of a thesis
comparable to a master’s degree awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States.
Doctorado/Doctor (Doctorate)
100 – 120 credits after a Bachiller Universitario
Research and defense of a dissertation
comparable to an earned doctorate awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States.
Licenciatura vs. Título
Licenciatura/Licenciado = credential
Licenciado en Enfermería = Licentiate in Nursing
Título = professional title
Título de Enfermera = Professional Title of Nurse
COSTA RICA – GRADING SCALE
GRADE SUGGESTED U.S.
EQUIVALENT
9 – 10 90 – 100 A
8 80 – 89 B
7 70 – 79 C
0 – 6 0 – 69 F
HONDURAS
República de Honduras
Population: 8,143,564
Official language: Spanish
Other languages: Amerindian
dialects, Garifuna
Literacy rate: 80%
Number of students in the
U.S.: 1,349 (0.9% increase)
HONDURAS – EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Secretaría de Educación (Secretary of
Education)
Free and compulsory through Grade 9
1999 National Reconstruction Movement
restructured elementary and secondary education
HONDURAS – BASIC & MIDDLE EDUCATION
Educación Básica (Basic Education)
Begin at age 6
Three cycles/3 years (Primero, Segundo, Tercero)
Standardized exams after each cycle
Streamed into academic and pre-vocational studies in Tercero (3rd) cycle
Educación Media (Middle Education)
Academic Stream – scientific and humanistic teaching (2 years)
Professional Stream – teaching and professional experiences (dual system 2-3 years)
HONDURAS – BASIC & MIDDLE EDUCATION
Diplomas awarded:
Bachiller en Ciencias y Letras (Baccalaureate in Sciences and Letters) – academic stream
comparable to completion of senior high school in the United States
Bachiller Técnico en ____ (Technical Baccalaureate in ____ ) – professional stream
comparable to completion of a vocational or other specialized high school curriculum in the United States
HONDURAS – HIGHER EDUCATION
Less than 7% (100,000) go on to higher education
5 public post-secondary institutions
8 private institutions
All post-secondary institutions recognized by the
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras/UNAH
(Autonomous University of Honduras)
Dirección de Educación Superior (Office of Higher
Education)
HONDURAS – UNDERGRADUATE
Título de Diplomado/ Título de Técnico (Professional Title of Diplomate/Professional Title of Technician)
3 years
comparable to completion of three years of undergraduate study at a regionally-accredited college of university in the United States with credit awarded on a course-by-course basis
Bachillerato Universitario (University Baccalaureate)
Last awarded in 1993
3-4 years
Does not lead to graduate study
comparable to completion of four years of undergraduate study at a regionally-accredited college of university in the United States with credit awarded on a course-by-course basis
HONDURAS – UNDERGRADUATE
Título de Licenciado en _____ (Professional Title of Licenciate in
____)
4 years (160 credits); leads to graduate study
comparable to a bachelor’s degree awarded by a
regionally-accredited college of university in the United States
Título de Ingeniero or Título de Arquitecto (Professional Title of
Engineer/Professional Title of Architect)
4 - 5 years; leads to graduate study
comparable to a first professional degree in
engineering/architecture awarded by a regionally-accredited
college of university in the United States
HONDURAS – GRADUATE EDUCATION
UNAH only institution that offers graduate programs
Maestría (Master)
1.5 - 3 years (40 – 52 credits beyond licenciado)
comparable to a master’s degree awarded by a
regionally-accredited college of university in the United
States
Doctorado (Doctorate)
3+ years following Licenciatura; 2 years following Maestría
comparable to an earned doctorate awarded by a
regionally-accredited college of university in the United
States
HONDURAS – GRADING SCALES
Public Secondary and Public Higher Education
GRADE SUGGESTED U.S.
EQUIVALENT
90 – 100% Sobresaliente A
80 – 89% Muy Bueno B
70 – 79% Bueno C
0 – 69% Reprobado F
Alternative Secondary School Scale
GRADE SUGGESTED U.S.
EQUIVALENT
91 – 100% Sobresaliente A
81 – 90% Muy Bueno B
61 – 80% Bueno C
0 – 60% Reprobado F
Private Higher Education Institutions
PERCENTAGE GRADE POINTS SUGGESTED U.S.
EQUIVALENT
90 – 100% A 4.0 A
86 – 89% B+ 3.5 B+
80 – 85% B 3.0 B
76 – 79% C+ 2.5 C+
70 – 75% C 2.0 C
66 – 69% D+ 1.5 D+
0 – 59% F 0.0 F
PANAMÁ
República de Panamá
Population: 3,460,462
Official language: Spanish
Other languages: English
Literacy rate: 80%
Number of students in the
U.S.: 1,173 (8.4% increase)
PANAMÁ – EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Ministerio de Educación (Ministry of Education)
Created in 1941
Free and compulsory ages 4 – 15
PANAMÁ – PRIMARY/SECONDARY
Escuela Primaria (Primary School)
6 years beginning at age 6
Educación Pre-Media (Lower Secondary School Education)
3 years
Diploma de Pre-Media (Lower Secondary School Diploma)
Comparable to completion of 9 years of primary and
lower secondary school
PANAMÁ – SECONDARY
Educación Media (Upper Secondary School Education)
3 years
Diploma de Educación Media (Upper Secondary School
Diploma) / Diploma de Bachiller (Baccalaureate Diploma)
Comparable to completion of senior high school in the
United States
PANAMÁ – HIGHER EDUCATION
25% go on to higher education
36 recognized universities
6 public, 30 private
80 universities operating
Consejo Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación
Universitaria de Panamá/CONEAUPA (National
Council of Evaluation and University Accreditation
of Panamá) established in 2006
PANAMÁ – HIGHER EDUCATION
Universidad de Panamá (University of Panamá)
Founded 1935 – first public university
Universidad Católica Santa Maria la Antigua
(Catholic University Santa Maria la Antigua)
Founded 1965 – first private university
PANAMÁ – HIGHER EDUCATION
Post-secondary technical studies offered at
specialized secondary schools, centers and institutes
Técnico (Technician)
2 years (3 years at Universidad Tecnológica)
May lead to further university studies
comparable to completion of 2-3 years of
undergraduate study in the United States with credit
awarded on a course-by-course basis
PANAMÁ – HIGHER EDUCATION
University-level studies
Licenciatura en Enfermedad (Licentiate in Nursing)
3 years
comparable to completion of 3 years of undergraduate study with transfer credit awarded on a course-by-course basis
Licenciatura (Licentiate)
4 – 5 years
comparable to a bachelor’s degree awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the U.S.
PANAMÁ – HIGHER EDUCATION
Diplomado (Diplomate)
1 year
Licenciatura required for admission
Comparable to completion of 1 year of graduate
study in the U.S.
Certificado de Postgrado (Post-Graduate Certificate)
1+ years
Licenciatura required for admission
Comparable to completion of 1or more years of
graduate study in the U.S.
PANAMÁ – HIGHER EDUCATION
Maestría (Master)
1 -2 years, plus defense of a thesis
Licenciatura required for admission
comparable to a master’s degree awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States
Doctorado (Doctorate)
3+ years of study, plus defense of a dissertation
Maestría required for admission
comparable to an earned doctorate awarded by a regionally-accredited college or university in the United States
PANAMÁ – GRADING SCALES
Secondary Education
Grade Percentage Performance
A 91 – 100% Outstanding
B 81 – 90% Good
C 71 – 80% Average
D 61 – 70% Minimum to pass
F 0 – 60% Fail
University Education
Grade Percentage Performance Grade Points
A 91 – 100% Outstanding 3
B 81 – 90% Good 2
C 71 – 80% Average 1
D 61 – 70% Minimum to pass 0
F 0 – 60% Fail 0
I Incomplete
P Pass
N Fail
RESOURCES
Costa Rica
Ministerio de Educación Pública (Ministry of Public Education)
P.O. Box Apdo 10087-1000
San José
http://www.mep.go.cr/
Email: [email protected]
Consejo Superior de la Educación Pública (Council on Public Higher Education)
http://www.cse.go.cr/
Consejo Nacional de Enseñanza Superior Universitaria/CONSEUP (National Council for University Higher Studies)
Consejo Nacional de Rectores/CONARE (National Council of Rectors)
P.O. Box Apdo 374-2050, Curridabat
Plaza del Sol
200 Sur 25 Este
San José
http://www.ulacit.ac.cr/files/documentosULACIT/Silvia/Silvia_Castro_Final_Dissertation.pdf
RESOURCES
Honduras Secretaría de Educación de Honduras (Secretary of Education of Honduras)
1a avendia entre 2a y 3a calle, Comayagüela
Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.
http://www.se.gob.hn
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras (National Autonomous
University of Honduras)
Blv Suyapa Ciudad Universitaria
Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.
https://www.unah.edu.hn/
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras Dirección de Educación Superior
(National Autonomous University of Honduras Office of Higher Education)
https://www.unah.edu.hn/?cat=1252&fcats
RESOURCES
Panamá
Ministerio de Educación (Ministry of Education)
Apartado Postal 0816-04049
Panamá
http://www.meduca.gob.pa/
Consejo de Rectores de Panamá (Council of Rectors of Panamá)
http://www.pa/consejo/index.htm
Consejo Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación Universitaria de
Panamá/CONEAUPA (National Council of Evaluation and
University Accreditation of Panamá)
http://www.coneaupa.com/
RESOURCES
General:
Central America Update, Jane E. Marcus, PIER, 1996
The Admission and Placement of Students from Central America,
PIER, Caroline Aldrich-Langen and Kathleen Sellew, 1987
Sistemas Educativas Nacionales (National Education Systems),
Organizacion de Estados Iberoamericanos (Organization of
Spanish-American States): http://www.oei.es/quipu/index.html
(in Spanish)
AACRAO Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE):
http://edge.aacrao.org/
The New Country Index Volumes 1 and 2, International Education
Research Foundation
MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS! THANKS!
Contact me: [email protected]
Special thanks to Peggy Bell Hendrickson for the
credentials examples.
TRANSLATIONS
SPANISH ENGLISH
Aprobado Passed
Bachillerato/Bachiller Baccalaureate – secondary school diploma or
bachelor’s degree, depending on the country
Carrera Major/program of study
Carrera corta Short-term program of study
Ciclo Cycle
Colegio College – secondary school, not post-secondary
Especialización Specialization
Fecha Date
Licenciado(a)/Licenciatura Licentiate
Maestría Master’s degree
Maestro(a) Teacher
Perito Expert
Reprobado(a) Failed
Título Title
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Costa Rica: Diploma de Estudios de Educacion Diversificada
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Costa Rica: Bachiller
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Costa Rica: Licenciado
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Costa Rica: Maestría
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Costa Rica: Doctor
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Panama: Licenciatura
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Panama: Licenciatura
CREDENTIALS EXAMPLES
Honduras: Bachiller en Ciencias y Letras