“ The Political Economy of Education Reform: The Case of Costa Rica”

1. “The Political Economy of Education Reform: The Case of Costa Rica” Eduardo A. Doryan Media Lab, MIT April 30, 2002

2. Costa Rica • 50 years of uninterrupted electoral democracy • 50 years with no army • 110 years of democratic institution building

3. Costa Rica at a Glance(Mid 1990s) Population (millions) 3.5 GNP per capita (US$) 1996 $2,640 Extreme Poverty (%) 5.6 Life Expectancy (years) 75 Women (years) 77.3 Infant Mortality (per 1000) 12 Child malnutrition (%) 2 Access to safe water (%) 92 Illiteracy (%) 5

4. Education Reform in 1993: On Stand Still Mode • No clear strategy • Under attack by key opinion makers • Budget in a historic low (4% GDP) • Low weight of Minister in public opinion and in the Cabinet • Decreasing number of actual school days • Stagnated computers in school program

5. Building Alliances Before Being in Office(1993-1994) • The political campaign • The linking of “activists” and “thinkers” • The definition of a strategy vs. politics as usual • The informal channels with trade union leaders • The forming of a nationwide team

6. The Transition(February - May 1994) • The plan for the first 100 days • The building of new alliances: the countrywide tour • The formal visit to the trade unions vs. the informal ones • The definition of a team: a balancing act between bureaucrats and transformational managers “MINISTERS COME AND GO; WE STAY” Graffitti in an office of the Ministry of Education.

7. The Real Stuff • 8 % projected fiscal deficit / GDP • Little space in the Cabinet • Fragmentation of power • Economic founded government • Take hold of power in the institution • Take hold of the bureaucratic agenda • Show progress in key electoral offerings • Win the heart of parents • Strategy/Action Plan/Communication

8. The Agenda Bridge the following gaps: SOCIAL GAP: • Preschool: 10% more coverage (near 90%) • Inner city schools: “the magnet effect” • One teacher school: quality and experience • Third wave of middle schools (7 to 9 grade) coverage • School health: direct access • Disability policy: a leap forward KNOWLEDGE GAP: • English/French in public primary schools • Informatics in primary and secondary schools • Technical High-schools up grading

9. The Agenda Bridge the following gaps: KNOWLEDGE GAP cont. • 9th grade national standardized tests plus diagnostic test in 1st grade (plus 6th, 11/12th grade baccalaureate test) • Strengthened in the curricular: What ? (content) How ? (cognitive skills) For what ? (values) • Text books: a social learning process with community participation • Rankings

10. Linking the Agenda with the Core of Economic/Social Development • Ministers of Finance • Treasurer • Expenditure comptroller • Minister of Foreign Trade • Minister of Health • Minister of Planning • The Gatekeepers: The Inner Circle of the President • The President

11. The “Honeymoon”:(May 94 - June 95) • Public Opinion • Trade Union • The 1000 key decision makers • The parents Making the most with 4.2% of GDP. World Bank/IDB loan.

12. The “Big Earthquake”: When Things Get Nasty(July - August, 1995) • Economic adjustment and trade unions: teachers, judges and congresspersons • Living through the longest strike • Surviving the mother of all strikes

13. EDU 2005: Rebuilding Trust and ThrustSeptember, 1995 -- December 1997 • One step back and ten forward • A new countrywide tour • Putting a long term agenda into the front run: reuniting the family 6% of GDP 200 School days Teacher certification

14. Overcoming the Political CycleJanuary -- May 1998 • Fiscal deficit and elections • Government priorities and National priorities • Strategic continuity and tactical fine tuning