Most jobs require very little of what we learn in high school and as such there has long been the argument that schools should teach other skills. They should teach trades and soft skills like emotional regulation, critical thinking, problem solving, self-esteem, empathy, intrapersonal skills, negotiation practices, and skills in high demand like computer science.
In any case, as things stand, to get a high school diploma in Costa Rica one must pass their classes as well as certain national tests, for main subjects like math and Spanish, for example. If someone fails even one of the tests they don’t get their diploma.
There’s a new bill that would change this and actually end up giving away high school degrees to 36,000 people who passed their classes but not the tests. Some question whether giving away degrees is a good employment strategy. It will allow many people to enter the labor market because most jobs require a high school diploma but will they be ready for the jobs they get?
From 2004-2019, 35,821 people passed their last year of high school but failed one or more of the national tests. 49% of them failed just one. If the bill is passed, they’d be able to go to the MEP and claim their degree.
