The United Nations in Costa Rica, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Education, UNESCO, and the Latin American University of Science and Technology, launched the country’s first National Guide on Artificial Intelligence for Educators in early 2026. The guide supports over 65,000 teachers and approximately one million students as they enter the 2026 academic year with access to safe and responsible AI learning tools.
The guide translates global AI governance principles into classroom practice, embedding safeguards for privacy, bias mitigation, and responsible use. It accompanies Costa Rica’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2024-2027 and complements a Ministry of Public Education and Intel Costa Rica partnership providing AI specialisation tracks at technical colleges.
Who it affects: All 65,000 teachers and approximately one million students in Costa Rica’s public education system.
What is notably missing: The guide is advisory rather than mandatory; schools and teachers are not legally required to follow it. No binding teacher training standard or funded implementation programme has been enacted. The Intel specialisation programme covers only a subset of technical colleges.