1,600 students on strike in Liberia; blame foul odor

LIBERIA, COSTA RICA – September 20^th, 2012 – A second week of student strikes approaches at the Community Institute for Professional Education (IPEC, in Spanish), in Liberia.  Students say they are protesting the poor condition of the school, and what they describe as a foul odor throughout the entire institution due to malfunctioning and inadequate restrooms. The students say they are unable to concentrate as a result of the powerful odor, which is affecting their education.  The institution has a total of 1,600 students and 50 teachers.

Other serious problems described by students are run down and damaged ceilings and walls, as well as the restrooms (3 for women and 1 for men), which are described as being in a constant state of filth.

They also stated that there has been no investment in infrastructure by the administrative board of the institution which owns the property to make necessary improvements, despite the fact that the Public Education Ministry already issued the funds.