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Poverty Causes School Exodus
Costa Rican authorities
recognized poverty as key cause
of school drop-outs and
announced the Money Transfer
Program, a subsidy to help poor
children complete their studies.
Official statistics show that
last year, 12 of every 100
junior high school students
dropped out, while national data
indicate that each year 6.8
percent of all students - 64,459
children - quit school.
Education Minister Leonardo
Garnier and Minister-Dean
Fernando Zumbado, of the social
sector and fight against
poverty, announced the project
and said it will benefit 3,500
students, beginning in July.
Conditions to enjoy the subsidy
include remaining three years in
the same education system, to
prevent moving to other schools.
Costa Rica's population of 4.1
million consists of 206,680 poor
families, 5.6 percent living in
abject poverty, and 53,941
families, mostly farmers, who
are destitute.
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