President Carlos Alvarado was present at the College of Limón* to announce the names of the 200 students chosen to start English courses offered by the Skills for Life program.

The government plans to train a total of 600 people using this English language learning program, for a total cost of ¢684 million colones (about $1,123,613). This is equivalent to an investment of $1,872 for each English language student.

President Alvarado said, "this important training in a second language is essential to generate better employment opportunities and thereby reactivate the economy in each of the beneficiary families."

Students will be starting classes in March and will study English for one year. They will then receive a “level of English” certificate showing that they have acquired the skills necessary to improve their employ-ability, said the government’s statement.

Steven Núñez, Minister of Labor, added that "this training process will allow these people to improve their occupational profile and obtain the necessary skills and abilities by mastering a second language for their future employment."

The Skills for Life Program’s main objective is to train 1,000 people over 17 who belong to populations living in poverty or extreme poverty. Students must have completed Bachelor's degree studies and be unemployed or engaged in additional studies.