Abstract

This essay describes the possibility of applying prospective thinking as a strategic alternative to transform the Costa Rican educational system for the twenty-first century. First, brief reflections are given about the current state of Costa Rican education and its long term vision. Then, an explanation of how the new technologies development influences the educational system. Later, some conceptual definitions are provided on the range of future studies, specifically, about prospective. It assumes the idea that prospective is a discipline that possesses a set of methods, processes and systems that allows to design possible and desirable future scenarios for social change, and that can be applied to the education sector. Following, a serial of reasons that justifies the necessity of applying the prospective analysis to the Costa Rican education are exposed, since our educational system is founded in values, approaches and legislation inspired on the past and with no image that amplifies the range of future alternatives. From these sections, a serial of general reflections are derived about the exposed topic. In general it is concluded that Costa Rica requires a long-term vision on education that contemplates, on a creative and innovative way, what our educational system that propitiates capabilities to compete based on technology, innovation, creativity and productivity in harmony with the environment.

Keywords: prospective; future studies; education; public politics; innovation