History of Colegio de Villarreal


VILLAREAL, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

On August 3rd, 2000, Suzye Lawson, Joyce Venegas, and Cyndy Vorih , along with photographer Bill Vorih, paid a visit to the office of the Liceo de Villarreal, in the community of Villarreal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The purpose of the visit was to meet with Licenciada Virginia Pizarro Grijalba, Director of the high school. The meeting took place in a small room adjacent to the local post office where the director has a desk, chair and telephone because there are none of these in the "administrative office" on the school property (which is a corner of the land designated as the "city park"). The group was there on a fact-finding mission, to ascertain the immediate needs of the school.

The school, which serves students 13 - 20 years of age (for some, this is their first opportunity to receive education beyond age 12) was founded in 1998 and spent its first two years holding classes in the Catholic Church building. At the end of the first two years, the number of students has grown to 300, and there was no longer space in the church. For these past three years, the Costa Rican government has promised to support the construction of a six-room building for the high school. To date nothing has been forth coming. The last contact, by phone, with the Ministry of Education Office in San Jose* on July 31st, 2000 brought the same response as always - "we're working on it."

There is a "plan" (an architectural design) for a six-room building to be built by the government. It will include a bathroom with two toilets. There is no provision for a lunchroom or an office. A copy of this plan is attached. But to date it remains only a "plan" and will not support an enrollment of 300 students.

The parents of the students have formed an association. And with used materials scrounged from the community and with labor provided by parents they have constructed a temporary fair weather building to serve the students. The local hardware store advanced materials, at cost and as needed, with payment due as funds could be raised. In addition, an outdoor bathroom was constructed and a separate structure with no water or electricity to serve as a lunchroom, The parents association (comprised of almost all of the parents of the students) has been fund raising in the small community with events such as simple fairs/fiestas, raffles and dances to pay for these materials. The roof of the temporary school building leaks and the building must be abandoned when it rains. When the weather is hot it becomes an oven and the students again abandon the building. The dirt floors, no running water and lack of electricity are additional burdens.

Some financial assistance to the school is received from the Costa Rican government. Currently there are eleven teachers and the administrator who receive small salaries. The government supplies a bus to bring students from the other twelve communities** within a radius of 17 kilometers served by the school. In addition the government gives intermittent financial support to the lunch program, which varies, from Colones 85,000 ($250) to Colones 40,000 ($120) per month to feed the 300 students and 12 school personnel. Those students, who can, pay Colones 100 (35 cents) per day for lunch. Approximately one third of the students cannot afford lunch. No school materials, equipment or uniforms (uniforms are required in Costa Rican schools) are provided by the government. Teachers purchase their own teaching materials, including the paper and pencils the students use.

The school offers a full academic curriculum within its limited resources. Course offerings are Mathematics (General Math, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus), Science (General Science, Biology, Chemistry), Social Sciences (History, Civics, Life Orientation), Psychology, Philosophy, Religion (optional), Languages (Spanish, English, French), Industrial Arts, Plastic Arts, and Physical Education. In addition they offer a course in tourism, a growing industry in Costa Rica. Class size varies from 20 to 32 students.


P. 2 Colegio de Villarreal Report:

The immediate critical needs of the school are (1.) a school building built of block construction on a cement slab with an insulated tin roof. (2.) 150 more desks***. (3.) ongoing financial support for school materials and the lunch program.

A five-acre plot of good land has been donated by a local landowner for the new school. Electricity and drinking water are available on the site. When this school is established in its own building, it is estimated the number of students will grow by approximately 30 %.

The Director has contacted several local businesses for support, but none has been forthcoming. The Women's Club of Costa Rica has provided a grant for 150 student desks, which will be available by the beginning of the new school year (February 2001). In addition, the Women's Club of Costa Rica has provided scholarships for two students so that they may remain in school.

The Director of the school is optimistic about the future of the school. The biggest problem is finding outside support to meet the needs of the school as outlined here. It is hoped that the information contained in this report will help to find this support.

Respectfully submitted,

Suzye Lawson, Chairman, Guanacaste Barrio, Women's Club of Costa Rica Villa Alegre B&B ~ 300 meters sur Capitán Suizo, Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica Phone: 011 (506) 653-0270 ~ Fax: (506) 653-0287 ~ E-mail: vialegre@racsa.co.cr

Joyce Venegas, Member of Advisory Committee, Women's Club of Costa Rica Cyndy Vorih, Member of Advisory Committee, Women's Club of Costa Rica Bill Vorih, Photographer Virginia Acosta, Professor, University de Costa Rica Luis Andyada, Agronomist Richard A. Torres, Fundraiser

Notes: *Guillermo Vargas, Minister of Education; Carlos Arce, Assistant Minister of Education, Government of Costa Rica

** Hernández, Huacas, La Garita, Lomas, Lajas, Llanito, Matapalo, Playa Grande, San Jose de Pinella, Santa Rosa, Tamarindo, Villa Margarita, Villarreal

*** 40 other desks provided by the Women's Club of Costa Rica


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