The Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT in Spanish) of Costa Rica opened three more Smart Community Centers (CECIs) this past Friday in the canton of Los Chiles, in the Northern Zone, province of Alajuela.

The three new CECIs are located in the communities of La Virgen, Las Nubes and Santa Fe. A total of 18 desktop computer systems were installed among the three Smart Community Centers, each with broadband Internet access. Many students and neighbors were present at the different inaugurations, which included ribbon-cutting ceremonies by Minister Alejandro Cruz. He thanked the different community organizations and private enterprises that contributed to the opening of the CECIs in these remote rural communities:

“The collaboration has been very important. Thanks to the efforts of the Ministry, Ticofrut, as well as the neighbors and students, we have accomplished what we see today. At the MICIT we are committed to education and access to learning, and thus we thank God and all of you who have made this possible. We promise to continue supporting you so that we can bridge the digital divide and improve human development for all.”

Some of the prominent members of the community who were present at the inaugurations included legislator Pilar Porras, Ticofrut representative Carlos Odio, and Mayor of Los Chiles Alvaro Solano.

Other CECIs in the Northern Zone will be inaugurated thanks to the efforts of local women’s groups. The purpose of these Smart Community Centers is to encourage all members of the community to learn basic computer, Internet and English skills.

Other CECIs in Costa Rica have seen a great number of students take advantage of the free courses offered therein, and Minister Cruz has been recognizing their learning by presenting them with certificates and upgrading their hardware.

Julio Hurtado, a teacher from the school at Las Nubes, compared the CECIs to “windows that look out to the world” for his students.

Two other new CECIs are scheduled to open soon in Cano Negro and Nueva Esperanza.