Diario las Américas., 1958-03-18
Know thyy
Neiqh.bor
BY RUIZ

COSTA RIGA - Education for
those who work during the day is
provided in Costa RIGA in numer-
Gus evening schools, both elemen-
tary and secondary. Although SUI
ficient courses are offered on the
secondary schools to achieve the
Bachelors degree, the majority OF
the evening classes are of COM
mercial nature. There r also sew
eral private commercial schools
and a Government operated four
year School of Commerce, which
gives such courses as office
management, in addition to short
hand, tipping and bookkeeping.
The "Escuela Normal de Costa
Rica" Normal School of Costa Ri
ca), a modern eo-educational
school, is located at Heredia. Upon
completion of the authorized five
year secondary school program,
students may spend two additional
years and receive a certificate of
Maestro Normal" or certified ele-
mentary school teacher. When the
University of Costa Rica was
founded in 1941 the Normal
School was incorporated under the
Faculty of Education.
The University of Sante Tomas
was founded in 1843, but it was abb
loished in 1888 by an Act of Con-
gress. However, the Faculty of Law
continued under the Ministry of
Public Education, and later under
the Bar Association. On March
7, 1941, the University of Costa
RIGA opened officially and incorp-
Grated the existing advanced
schools of law, pharmacy, agricul-
ture, education and fine arts.
Schools of engineering, sciences,
liberal arts and dentistry, were
established at that time. The
School of Education remains at
Heredia, and the School of Agri-
culture at San Pedro, just outside
San Jose The remaining schools
are all located in San Jose. During
the summer of 1850, a summer ses-
sion was conducted at the Universe
ty for the first time, and has
continued successfully.
The Inter American Institute
of Agricultural Sciences, which
was opened at Turrialba in 1914,
is an affiliated organ of the Or
ganization of American States
(OAS). 1t is primarily a center for
research, postgraduate courses in
methods of scientific research and
experimental techniques, Stats
tics, plant life and culture. Instruc-
ton is also offered in the specialize
ed fields in which research is be-
ing conducted
The Institute. a specialized Inter
American agency, has as its gov
erning board the Council of the
Organization of American States.
The primary purpose of the In
stitute is the encouragement and
advancement Of all agricultural
sciences, through research and
education for the benefit of all
the participating nations.
The decision was finally reach
ed to establish the headquarters
of the Institute near Turrialba, Cos
ia RIGA, because the whole rich vol
canic plateau and portions of the
Reventaz6n River Valley, only two
miles away, were made available to
the Institute.
Extensive research has been con-
Quoted to improve existing crop
production, soil conservation pro-
cedures, and livestock classes and
their productivity. For Costa Rica,
its experimentation with new varie-
ties of grapes, its Improvement of
cinchona, its study of the utiliza-
ton of coffee waste and of such
engineering projects as irrigation,
farm housing, farm identification,
and power machinery, are of great
Importance.
" Spanish Version Page 3