Costa Rica: Activists to stage protests in several locations through Aug. 29 to demand greater funding for public education

Education activists affiliated with dozens of organizations and institutions, including the National University Student Federation (Federacion de Estudiantes de la Universidad Nacional, FEUNA), plan to stage demonstrations across Costa Rica through at least Aug. 29. The purpose of the demonstrations is to demand greater funding for public education. On Aug. 28, activists launched several related protest marches in San Jose, with participants marching from La Merced Park, El Pretil at the University of Costa Rica, and the Sabanilla campus of the State University of Distance Education (Universidad Estatal a Distancia, UNED) toward the Plaza de la Democracia to present a budget proposal to lawmakers at the adjacent Legislative Assembly building.

On Aug. 29, activists plan to stage additional demonstrations in areas across the country, including in the following locations:

• Liberia, Guanacaste Province: University of Costa Rica (UCR) campus, 08:00

• Limon, Limon Province: UCR campus, 09:00

• Perez Zeledon, San Jose Province: National University (UNA) campus, 08:00

• Caldera, Puntarenas Province: Unspecified location, 08:00

Well-attended demonstrations that materialize on Aug. 29 will probably comprise hundreds of participants. Officials will likely deploy a heightened security presence to monitor the protests. Transport and business disruptions will probably affect areas subject to protest activity and increased security. Authorities may close roads on short notice to facilitate the demonstrations. Clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out.