Following the decision of the National Institute of Learning (INA) to maintain the 15-people delegation to participate in the technical studies Olympics in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a student reported that he and a partner were removed from the trip.
Josué Durón told the press that after a long process of selection, approval and procedures, he was excited about the trip, where he would participate in a forum that runs parallel to the Olympics. He would go with a partner and the organization would cover most of the expenses, such as airfare, lodging and so on.
However, he says that 15 days ago INA authorities informed them that they would no longer be traveling to the United Arab Emirates.
In a meeting that we were called about 15 days ago, we were informed the following:” Because of the criticisms that the media are making to the president of the INA, the decision was made to cancel the trip of your guardian, since the INA cannot afford their expenses, and you cannot travel alone, so we are cancelling your participation in the forum,”
said the student of light mechanics.
The student states that they made them spend about 40 thousand colones for the passport in addition to all the illusion they had to live that experience.
They had to travel with a guardian that would be funded by the INA, so it was decided that these two students would not participate in the forum.
The 2017 WordSkills will have the participation of four Costa Rican students that will be accompanied, by a translator and an expert, each. That number includes 12 people, who are joined by an official delegate, the technical delegate and the team leader.
Among the delegation is INA Executive President Minor Rodríguez, who indicated that both students were not part of the official delegation, so they cannot say they are being taken out of the trip.