Not being able to read and write will no longer be the reason for a child in Costa Rica to fail first grade. Starting next year, all school children will advance to grade two.
This was part of the new Spanish language program for first grade, which was approved Monday night.
The Minister of Public Education, Leonardo Garnier, said he will recommend to the schools that it be same first grade teacher to follow the students into the second grade.
Garnier explained that the policy aims to reinforce reading and writing skills for the first two years without interruption.