“On September 9th, Children’s Day in Costa Rica brings joy with games and gifts for kids. But, new numbers show a big problem: almost 40% of children are very poor.
In 2022, a survey found that 39% of kids, especially in families led by women with less schooling, were very poor. Also, about 33.5% of kids aged 6–17 either don’t go to school or struggle. This makes it hard for them to succeed in the future.
A report from 2021 shows big differences. Only 4% of the money for public schools goes to indigenous communities, and Afro-descendants get 2%. Meanwhile, the Central Region gets 52%.
In 2020, a study about kids’ well-being by the Ministry of Planning and UNICEF showed that in a third of places, kids’ rights are not being fully protected. This shows how different cities and rural areas are.
Laura Rivera from the Interdisciplinary Program for Child Rights Studies emphasized the urgent need to address serious unfairness that has been getting worse over time. She pointed out that child poverty is even higher than the average poverty rate. Among OECD countries, Costa Rica has the highest child poverty rate.
Rivera also talked about how the education system is uneven, with differences between places and types of schools. The COVID-19 situation has made this problem even worse.
Even though kids should be happy on their special day, many still don’t have enough good conditions, opportunities, and rights. Costa Rica has to work hard to make sure everyone, no matter their background, gets the same benefits from the country’s success.
First Lady Claudia Dobles urged, “We can’t allow poverty to rob children of their childhoods.” She called on everyone to recommit on Children’s Day to making sure every child, regardless of their background, has a good life and education.
President Chaves agreed, emphasizing the importance of investing in nutrition, internet access, and improving schools and roads in rural areas to close the disparities.
However, experts believe that changes need to happen more quickly. They suggest bolstering social programs, giving money to families in need, and making sure the budget gives more attention to young people.
Sociologist Ana Guardado said, “Children are important now and in the future. How well they do will decide Costa Rica’s future. We need to work together to give all kids what they need to succeed.”
As the celebrations end, Costa Rican kids have to wait 364 days for their next holiday. While Children’s Day brought happiness, we need to keep working to turn challenges into opportunities for them.
SOURCE: The Tico Times