The latest PISA assessment confirms that Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic, the only countries in the region to appear in its ranking, are far from the average results obtained by the OECD group of nations.
Although in the last ten years the average expenditure per primary and secondary student increased by about 15% in OECD countries, most of their states do not report significant progress in education.
The greater interest in studying social sciences and the lesser inclination for training in technical or scientific areas may be partly because of the preference of professionals for employment in a government institution rather than in the private sector.
According to data from the National Council of Rectors (Conare), between 2006 and 2016, in Costa Rica the careers in the area of Social Sciences registered the highest growth according to the proportion of graduates, going from 36.2% to 45.5% of the total number of students.
Central Americans and other Latin Americans are feeling more concerned about what Trump can say or do, than over the only thing that can really change the fate of poverty in the region, which is education.
EDITORIAL
The recently published results of the PISA tests confirm that in the best case, these countries maintain positions midway down the table of global results, and in the worst case have fallen in the objective measurement of quality of the most important resource for economic and social development, people and their cognitive abilities.
For every ten professionals in demand by private companies in Costa Rica between 2014 and 2016, 7 were computer and software engineers.
The growing demand for professionals in careers related to engineering, especially in the area of computing and software development, contrasts increasingly with the demand for professionals in other disciplines, such as social work, which are losing ground as the use of information technologies advances.
In the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica a bill is being discussed which would impose compulsory licensing for IT and computing professionals.
Editorial
The bill that seeks reform of Law No. 7,537, Organic Law of the Association of Professionals in Information Technology and Computing has been ruled on positively in the Commission which is studying it.
Adpoting the PISA tests as a basic tool for the management of education systems is essential if you want to push back the boundaries of underdevelopment.
EDITORIAL
It is not uncommon to hear from officials in Latin American educational corporations that the PISA assessment system is "unfair" because it compares results with those obtained in advanced countries.
There has been a rise in the number of firms reporting difficulties in recruiting qualified staff, especially technicians, engineers and sales managers.
In one year the number of companies who said they found it difficult to fill vacancies grew by 11%, according to figures from a survey carried out by the human resources firm Manpower, which states that "...
Five tips to increase productivity as practiced by different personalities recognized for having achieved success.
Jennifer Cohen 's article on Forbes.com reviews how the morning may be the most useful time for work and personal development, and lists five activities which it is essential to carry out early in the day.
1 - Physical Exercise
Most successful people do exercise in the morning because it gives them an extra energy boost for the day and a nice sense of accomplishment. Any type of exercise is good, from running to short bursts of bending or stretching routines.
Rigid working structures remains an obstacle to be overcome by women, even though new technologies have made working conditions more flexible in the world.
According to Sonia Vanegas, country manager of Manpower, at a global level, for several years many companies have started to promote policies that are friendly to women's performance. "Many women still fail to establish the balance between personal and professional life due to, among other things, rigid schedules that keep them stuck in the office," says Vanegas.
The growing trend of change in economies led by the conservation of the environment is creating a demand for a workforce with new skills.
The employment potential arising from the transition to a greener economy cannot be exploited unless new skills related to green jobs are developed, says a study by the ILO covering 21 countries, which together represent about 60 percent of the world population.
Success is not a destination but a journey without end, which requires a positive attitude, team playing mentality, a mindset for continuous improvement and responsible outlook.
With over 20 years of experience as an executive of IBM, in the ever turbulent business environments of Latin America, the engineer Enrique Baliño says the success is not a destination but a journey without end, and that successful people have to develop four key attitudes: positivity, team playing, continuous improvement and accountability.
Corporations that promote physical activities and sports help to improve not only the health of their employees but also their job performances.
Implementing a physical exercise program in the workplace, could be the solution to the problems of sickness absence and low staff performance as well as helping to change unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Diana Lucia Salas in her article in Elfinancierocr.com writes, "Take into account that the situation is a win-win, because the worker, on a personal level, gains significant improvements in their physical condition.
Broadband telecommunications technologies have the potential to stimulate rapid economic growth and facilitate job creation.
The report, "Broadband: a platform for progress", published by the United Nations, urges countries to implement national plans for broadband, so as not to risk losing the benefits of global high-speed digital communication .
The report shows, by way of example, that every 10 percent increase in broadband penetration in China could contribute to an increase of 2.5 percent extra growth in the gross domestic product (GDP). Other data cited in the report indicates that for countries of low and middle incomes, a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration could mean up to a 1.4 percent point increase in economic growth.
Warning! This article contains information that can lead to psychological damage - specially to your boss.
Bnet.com published 5 tips to "help" your boss make the "correct" decisions - the ones that benefit you the most...
1 - When your boss organizes a meeting, hijack it:
To land a favorable decision, invite as many allies as possible to the meeting, and prepare them to support your ideas.