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: contraloriaservicios@mep.go.cr

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: kfreeman@icdeval.com

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