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Res. 18787-2025 Sala Constitucional · Sala Constitucional · 20/06/2025
OutcomeResultado
The appeal was granted, and the Ministry of Public Education was ordered to correct physical-sanitary deficiencies and build the necessary infrastructure at Miramar High School within one year.Se declaró con lugar el amparo y se ordenó al Ministerio de Educación Pública corregir las deficiencias físico-sanitarias y construir la infraestructura necesaria en el Liceo de Miramar en el plazo de un año.
SummaryResumen
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by the father of two Miramar High School students, who were affected by the serious physical-sanitary deficiencies of the educational center. It was found that the high school lacked sufficient capacity (40% overcrowding and a shortage of at least 12 classrooms), forcing the use of inadequate makeshift spaces. Additionally, it had non-compliance with sanitary orders regarding the gymnasium, lack of valid certificates for electrical and LP gas facilities, absence of an operating permit, poor condition of the perimeter fence, and deficiencies in sanitary services, washbasins, drinking fountains, accessibility, and safety conditions. The Chamber linked the right to education with the right to health and a healthy environment (Constitutional Articles 50 and 21), determining that the inaction of the Ministry of Public Education's Department of Educational Infrastructure and Equipment violated the students' fundamental rights, despite multiple unsuccessful efforts by the school's administration and board. The Ministry was ordered to correct the deficiencies and build the necessary infrastructure within one year.La Sala Constitucional declaró con lugar un recurso de amparo interpuesto por el padre de dos estudiantes del Liceo de Miramar, quienes se encontraban afectados por las graves deficiencias físico-sanitarias del centro educativo. Se constató que el Liceo carecía de capacidad locativa suficiente (sobrepoblación del 40% y faltante de al menos 12 aulas), lo que obligaba a improvisar espacios inadecuados. Además, presentaba incumplimiento de órdenes sanitarias relativas al gimnasio, carencia de certificados vigentes para instalaciones eléctricas y de gas LP, falta de permiso de funcionamiento, mal estado de la malla perimetral, y deficiencias en servicios sanitarios, lavamanos, bebederos, accesibilidad y condiciones de seguridad. La Sala vinculó el derecho a la educación con el derecho a la salud y a un ambiente sano (artículos 50 y 21 constitucionales), determinando que la inacción de la Dirección de Infraestructura y Equipamiento Educativo del Ministerio de Educación Pública vulneraba los derechos fundamentales de los estudiantes, pese a las múltiples gestiones infructuosas de la dirección y la junta administrativa del colegio. Se ordenó al Ministerio corregir las deficiencias y construir la infraestructura necesaria en el plazo de un año.
Key excerptExtracto clave
In sum, the Department of Educational Infrastructure and Equipment of the Ministry of Education has neglected its obligation to manage and provide the educational center with appropriate facilities, so the amparo must be granted, with the consequences set forth in the operative part of this decision. V.- NOTE BY JUDGE SALAZAR ALVARADO. In principle, I consider that cases related to the activity or inactivity of the Public Administration regarding the repair, construction, modification, or demolition of any infrastructure work should be dismissed, because such omission constitutes a legality issue, whose discussion belongs to the ordinary jurisdiction, where the interested party can debate their disagreements more broadly. However, when such administrative conduct (omissive or not) leads to a violation of other fundamental rights protected in this constitutional jurisdiction, or affects groups considered vulnerable, I do agree to hear the merits, as this situation constitutes an exception to my position on this matter, as in this case, where the appellant claims that the protected persons are regular students of Miramar High School and that this educational center has lacked appropriate physical-sanitary conditions for years.En suma, la Dirección de Infraestructura y Equipamiento Educativo del Ministerio de Educación, ha desatendido su obligación de gestionar y dotar al centro educativo de instalaciones apropiadas, por lo que corresponde estimar el amparo, con las consecuencias señaladas en la parte dispositiva de esta resolución. V.- NOTA DEL MAGISTRADO SALAZAR ALVARADO. En tesis de principio, considero que los casos relacionados con la actividad o inactividad de la Administración Pública en la reparación, construcción, modificación o demolición de cualquier obra de infraestructura, deben ser desestimados, por constituir, esa omisión, un tema de legalidad, cuya discusión corresponde a la jurisdicción ordinaria, ante la cual la persona interesada puede debatir, con mayor amplitud, sus disconformidades. Sin embargo, cuando de aquella conducta administrativa (omisiva o no) se derive alguna violación a otros derechos fundamentales tutelados en esta jurisdicción constitucional, o se afecten grupos considerados vulnerables, sí entro a conocer el fondo del asunto, por constituir esta situación una excepción a mi posición en esta materia, tal y como sucede en este caso, en que la parte recurrente alega que las amparadas son estudiantes regulares del Liceo de Miramar y que ese centro educativo, desde hace años carece de condiciones físico- sanitarias apropiadas.
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"El derecho a la salud reconocido en los artículos 21 de la Constitución Política... se encuentra íntimamente ligado al derecho a vivir en un ambiente sano y equilibrado, consagrado en el artículo 50 constitucional."
"The right to health recognized in Article 21 of the Political Constitution... is intimately linked to the right to live in a healthy and balanced environment, enshrined in Constitutional Article 50."
Considerando III
"El derecho a la salud reconocido en los artículos 21 de la Constitución Política... se encuentra íntimamente ligado al derecho a vivir en un ambiente sano y equilibrado, consagrado en el artículo 50 constitucional."
Considerando III
"Lo menos que puede hacer el Estado es que al brindar la prestación de este servicio público no lesione otros derechos fundamentales, como sería el derecho a la salud y a un ambiente sano, tanto de los estudiantes como del personal docente y administrativo de la institución educativa."
"The least the State can do is that, when providing this public service, it does not harm other fundamental rights, such as the right to health and a healthy environment, both for students and for the teaching and administrative staff of the educational institution."
Considerando III
"Lo menos que puede hacer el Estado es que al brindar la prestación de este servicio público no lesione otros derechos fundamentales, como sería el derecho a la salud y a un ambiente sano, tanto de los estudiantes como del personal docente y administrativo de la institución educativa."
Considerando III
"Cuando de aquella conducta administrativa (omisiva o no) se derive alguna violación a otros derechos fundamentales tutelados en esta jurisdicción constitucional, o se afecten grupos considerados vulnerables, sí entro a conocer el fondo del asunto."
"When such administrative conduct (omissive or not) leads to a violation of other fundamental rights protected in this constitutional jurisdiction, or affects groups considered vulnerable, I do agree to hear the merits of the case."
Nota del Magistrado Salazar Alvarado
"Cuando de aquella conducta administrativa (omisiva o no) se derive alguna violación a otros derechos fundamentales tutelados en esta jurisdicción constitucional, o se afecten grupos considerados vulnerables, sí entro a conocer el fondo del asunto."
Nota del Magistrado Salazar Alvarado
Full documentDocumento completo
(…) IV.- SPECIFIC CASE. It was established that the protected minors are regular eighth- and tenth-grade students at the Liceo de Miramar. Furthermore, it was confirmed that this educational center is located on the properties of the Partido de Puntarenas No. 46283, which is registered in the name of the Junta Administrativa del Liceo Montes de Oro, and 751179-2001, which is unregistered land with an area of 9179.29 m2. With regard to the educational center's facilities, it was verified that, despite the repeated requests made by the Directorate and the Junta Administrativa of the Liceo de Miramar, as well as the Dirección Regional de Educación of Puntarenas, for the purpose of having an intervention carried out on that educational center's facilities and building the infrastructure required to adequately serve the enrolled student population, the alleged physical-sanitary problems continue without being properly addressed, since the improvement plans formulated by the administration for these purposes have not been fully complied with, because, as can be inferred from technical report MS-DRRSPC-DARSMO-IT-00099-2025 of June 5, 2025, not only is the infrastructure lacking, but also the appropriate conditions to serve the current educational population—which exceeds the Liceo's locative capacity by slightly more than 40%—since not only have classrooms had to be improvised to serve the students, but the facilities do not satisfy suitable spatial architectural conditions, such as the quantity and functionality of sanitary services (servicios sanitarios), sinks, and drinking fountains, as well as signage, emergency bells in the sanitary services (servicios sanitarios), light fixtures, free access in the case of the library, and architectural barriers.
Additionally, there are no current certificates regarding the electrical and LP gas installations. There is also no operating permit, and the perimeter mesh is in very poor condition. With regard to the gymnasium, the sanitary orders issued to the respondent ministry continue to be unfulfilled.
On the other hand, while it is true that at the time this amparo was filed, the situation of the property on which the Liceo de Miramar is located remained unregularized, since the cadastral map had not yet been prepared and all the requirements needed to process the possessory information for the land in question had not been met, the respondent ministry has not ensured compliance with the requirements needed for the registry inscription and transfer of the land.
In sum, the Dirección de Infraestructura y Equipamiento Educativo of the Ministerio de Educación has neglected its obligation to manage and provide the educational center with appropriate facilities, and therefore the amparo must be granted, with the consequences indicated in the operative part of this resolution. (…)
As a matter of principle, I believe that cases related to the activity or inactivity of the Public Administration in the repair, construction, modification, or demolition of any infrastructure work should be dismissed, because that omission constitutes a matter of legality, the discussion of which belongs to the ordinary jurisdiction, before which the interested party can debate their disagreements more broadly. However, when some violation of other fundamental rights protected in this constitutional jurisdiction derives from that administrative conduct (whether by omission or not), or vulnerable groups are affected, I do proceed to hear the merits of the case, as this situation constitutes an exception to my position on this matter, just as it happens in this case, in which the appellant alleges that the protected parties are regular students of the Liceo de Miramar and that this educational center has lacked appropriate physical-sanitary conditions for years.
VCG07/2025 Regarding the project related to Law 8283, that project is assigned to engineer Percy Wallace of the Works Development Department of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment. The F1 form had already been filled out on previous occasions; however, it is filled out again with the sincere intention of carrying out what was requested and not hindering any administrative procedure, this in accordance with my interest as director to efficiently and effectively execute any request in this matter and not to be negligent as one might wish, thereby demonstrating that the bureaucracy and negligence that appears to be from the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment is not my responsibility. On March 19, 2024, by means of official letter DREP S04 LM 020-2024, the action plan was sent to the Governing Health Area of Montes de Oro, despite the fact that it is the responsibility of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment to generate it.
As of March 19, 2025, that department still has not pronounced on it, despite multiple emails and meetings held. Matters related to the shortage of workshops, the deterioration of the perimeter fences (mallas perimetrales), and the electrical problems are matters beyond her responsibility. On May 3, 2024, a meeting was held with engineer Percy Wallace of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment, Yesenia Castro Herrera and Donald Brenes Ramírez of the Sports Committee, Brenda Aymerich Pérez and Yanella Fallas both of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment regarding issues related to the sanitary orders and the land transfers, in which it was agreed that engineer Pérez Wallace would carry out a remedial plan for the sanitary order with the Ministry of Health; coordinate with surveyor Carlos Cerdas a site visit regarding the land transfers and the projects that are pending under Law 8283 from the projects managed by architect Sergio Sandi to reassign or unify all projects with the sanitary orders.
On May 17, 2024, engineer Percy Wallace of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment sent a response plan for sanitary order ARSMO- S00114-2023 to Batista Castro of the Ministry of Health, who assures that he forwarded it to his superiors and other officials of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment. There is evident neglect of institutional needs, since to date they are still waiting for what was agreed to be executed. By means of official letter DREP SC04 LM 093-2023 of May 27, 2024, a document was sent to engineer Percy Wallace of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment resuming the agreements of the remedial plan and as per the meeting held on May 2. In addition, he is informed of a serious electrical problem at the institution, for which reason he is told that a temporary fix has been done and requests help so that this detail is taken into account in the construction and formation of the constructive designs agreed upon in the meeting.
On May 31, 2024, engineer Percy Wallace of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment clarifies that, due to the need to hire a professional for addressing the sanitary order in the gymnasium and for the additional works that were proposed with architect Sergio Sandi, a single external professional hiring will be made to cover both projects. The director of the Liceo de Miramar indicates to him that those procedures had already been initiated with Nombre05 regarding a proposal that had been made with the land transfer by an organized group from the canton and the board; however, according to what was discussed via TEAMS, it is clear that what is regulated by the department will be followed; however, it has not been indicated whether they must present any document from the Board or Administration. It is the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment that impedes the effective and timely follow-up to address the claimed problems.
The educational center continues waiting for the instructions to follow to execute, in the first instance, the land transfers so that the legal situation is regularized and thus the DIEE can invest in infrastructure. All of the above boils down to ineffectiveness, disinterest, and negativity from the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment in providing the corresponding information. As director, she has done what is necessary and has acted in a timely and proper manner. On June 21, 2024, engineer Percy Wallace and José Antonio Villalobos of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment appeared at the Liceo inquiring about the process of transferring the lands of the Liceo de Miramar. The foregoing, despite the fact that it was reported that this visit had not taken place, thus demonstrating the great lack of coordination among the officials of the DIEE. Therefore, in the presence of the official, an email is sent to Brenda Aimerich Pérez of the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment, who was also present at the May meeting, to inform her of what happened, and as on other occasions, nothing happens and silence continues to reign.
She continues waiting for the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment to act on what is its responsibility to address the reported physical and sanitary problems. Finally, the last communication from the Directorate of Infrastructure and Equipment of June 28, 2024, indicates that the surveyor's visit to carry out the survey of the lands for the purpose of the transfer process to the Ministry of Public Education is suspended, so to this day, it has not been communicated to us who will carry out the visit, and at this point lies the procedure carried out by the Administration and the Administrative Board, both of the Liceo de Miramar, before all the requests and needs of the building. The decision to intervene in the facilities is beyond her competencies.
“… The Gymnasium of the Liceo de Miramar has physical-sanitary deficiencies, proceed to comply…
Present an improvement plan, including a schedule of activities, with start and end dates, responsible parties, and actions to be taken, within a period not exceeding 6 months for the completion of the works…
Immediately intervene on the electrical system, mainly the one used by the areas located at the back of the bleachers…
Have an electrical system that complies with the country's current regulations, presenting to this Governing Health Area an electrical certification from an engineer…
Restrict the use of the last three rows along the entire bleacher and in the last sector add one more row, maintaining this restriction until the repairs to the structure are made…
Replace wooden elements that show damage from moisture, use and / or termites (comején)…
Repair steel elements that show damage from corrosion…
Eliminate rainwater ingress into the bleachers…
Repair and eliminate the leaks that run through the sanitary services and locker rooms…
Maintain order and access at all times in all Gymnasium facilities, including sanitary services, locker rooms, hallways, and surroundings…
Eliminate solid waste from the surroundings of the gymnasium and dispose of it in a sanitary manner…
Condition the classroom located under the bleachers, meeting the minimum required conditions of comfort and safety for both teachers and students…”.
This sanitary order is considered fulfilled since July 4, 2023. Likewise, on August 29, 2023, Sanitary Orders No. ARS-MO-OS-00112-2023 (to the regional director of Education of Puntarenas), No. ARS-MO-OS-00113-2023 (to the then Minister of Education), No. ARS-MO-OS-00114-2023 (to the director of the Liceo de Miramar), and No. ARS-MO-OS-00115-2023 (to the president of the Education Board) were issued, all notified on September 8, 2023, with a compliance deadline of 7 calendar months, which expired on March 29, 2024, ordering:
“… In response to the Corrective Action Plan in reply to sanitary order No. ARS-MO-OS-00038-2022, the corrective action plan is hereby approved with the indicated dates, and compliance is requested within the deadline indicated above…
Immediately intervene on the electrical system, mainly the one used by the areas located at the back of the bleachers…
Have an electrical system that complies with the country's current regulations, presenting to this Governing Health Area an electrical certification from a CAPDEE engineer…
Restrict the use of the last three rows along the entire bleacher and in the last sector add one more row, maintaining this restriction until the repairs to the structure are made…
Repair steel elements that show damage from corrosion, under approval and subsequent inspection by this Ministry of Health…
Eliminate rainwater ingress into the bleachers, under approval and subsequent inspection by this Ministry of Health…
Repair and eliminate the leaks that run through the sanitary services and locker rooms, under approval and subsequent inspection by this Ministry of Health…”.
By means of Technical Inspection Report No. MS-DRRSPC-DARSMO-IT-00080-2025 of May 19, 2025, signed by the Health Regulation Team, the following was recorded:
“… CONCLUSION.
Sanitary order No. ARS-MO-OS-0038-2022 is fulfilled upon the presentation of the improvement plan that was requested.
Regarding the Improvement Plan requested in sanitary order ARS-MO-OS-0038-2022, of the 10 points to be resolved, 4 are fulfilled, 5 are partially fulfilled, and one is Not Fulfilled, from which sanitary order ARS-MO-OS-00114-2023 derived.
Regarding sanitary order No. ARS-MO-OS-000114-2023 [sic], of the 5 points requested, one point is fulfilled, 3 are partially fulfilled, and one is not fulfilled, so it is in breached condition…
There is no evidence of compliance with the remedial plan submitted by the MEP, for which the established deadlines for the execution of Stages 1 and 2 have already expired.
The compliance deadline for order ARS-MO-OS-00114-2023, which conditioned the Sanitary Operating Permit, expired on March 29, 2024, as did the provisional permit granted to the Educational Center, so, at the moment, it is without the respective permit and the order is breached…”.
Drafted by Magistrate Hess Herrera; and,
CONSIDERING:
The appellant notes that his two daughters are regular students at the Liceo de Miramar and that this educational center has, for years, lacked appropriate physical-sanitary conditions, since not only is there a shortage of classrooms and workshops, forcing the minor students to receive classes in makeshift structures (ranchos), under trees, in corridors, and in hallways, but there are sanitary orders that have not been addressed, which means that his daughters have to receive Physical Education lessons in an unsafe place without the minimum conditions to function, given that the perimeter fences (cercas perimetrales) are in very poor condition and the necessary security is lacking to guarantee the safety of the minors and the protection of institutional assets. For all the foregoing, they consider the claimed fundamental rights violated.
Of relevance for the decision of this amparo, the following are considered proven:
The Miramar High School has an overpopulation of 287 students, based on the indicated capacity of the Educational Center, which is 700 students. It is verified that classrooms have been improvised to serve the student population enrolled in the Educational Center, and two more (Industrial Arts and Plastic Arts) are located in areas that do not meet the minimum conditions of safety, well-being, or comfort for either students or teachers. The Miramar High School has a total of 35 classrooms, the vast majority of which meet physical-sanitary conditions. The main damage verified is in some ceiling panels (cielos rasos), lack of paint maintenance on walls, and overcrowding in the improvised classrooms. The classroom furniture, such as desks and chairs, is considered mostly in acceptable condition, taking into account that, according to statements, the teachers themselves provide maintenance for it, though some chairs and work tables with significant damage and visible deterioration were observed.
It is verified that the educational center has 9 sanitary fixtures for males, 12 sanitary fixtures for females, and 6 urinals, which does not comply with the provisions of the Regulation on Architectural Design Requirements for Public and Private Education Buildings in Costa Rica, 41103-MEP, based on the current student population, which indicates that there must be 1 urinal and 1 toilet for every 40 males, and 1 toilet for every 30 females. Added to the above, not all sanitary fixtures were in working order, nor were the urinals. It is verified that the educational center has around 18 handwashing stations (lavamanos), complying with the provisions of the Regulation on Architectural Design Requirements for Public and Private Education Buildings in Costa Rica, 41103-MEP, which indicates that there must be one handwashing station for every 80 students; however, many of the institution's handwashing stations are damaged.
It is verified that the Miramar High School has around 10 drinking fountains (bebederos), complying with the provisions of the Regulation on Architectural Design Requirements for Public and Private Education Buildings in Costa Rica, 41103-MEP, which indicates that there must be 1 drinking fountain for every 100 students; however, many of these drinking fountains are damaged. It is evident that the Miramar High School has a dining hall that meets adequate physical-sanitary conditions; however, it cannot be verified that they have a current certificate from an Engineer for the LP gas installations, as the last one presented to this Health Governing Area (Área Rectora de Salud) is from the year 2022. It is evident that the Miramar High School has 3 Laboratories, duly equipped with computers and furniture; however, two of them have damage to their air conditioning. It is evident that the Miramar High School has a library suitable for the students.
It is evident that the Miramar High School provides accessibility in compliance with Law 7600 to the majority of hallways, classrooms, laboratories, library, administrative offices, gymnasium, and sanitary fixtures, failing to comply in aspects such as signage, emergency bells in sanitary fixtures, free access in the case of the library, and an uneven surface at the end of the Dirección01. It is evident that the Miramar High School keeps its surroundings free of overgrowth and sources of contamination, verifying only an accumulation of organic waste in the surroundings of the Dirección03. It is evident that the Miramar High School has trash cans in all its hallways. It is evident that several of the drinking fountains do not properly dispose of their ordinary wastewater (aguas ordinarias) into a system approved by the Ministry of Health. It is verified that the electrical installations in the classrooms and pavilions are enclosed in conduit.
Missing or damaged lighting fixtures are observed in some hallways. The administrative offices are observed to be overcrowded and lack an exclusive space for filing. The gymnasium conditions continue in non-compliance with the sanitary orders issued by this Ministry of Health (sic) …” (visible in the Event History of the Electronic File).
This Tribunal, in judgment No. 2023006254 of 9:15 a.m. on March 17, 2023, addressed the topic under discussion, holding, in pertinent part:
“… The right to health recognized in articles 21 of the Political Constitution, 1 and 11 of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, 4 of the American Convention on Human Rights, and 10 of the Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, is intimately linked to the right to live in a healthy and balanced environment, enshrined in article 50 of the Constitution. Environmental quality is a fundamental parameter of quality of life, just like health, food, work, housing, education, among others. Consequently, the State has the obligation to provide adequate protection to the environment, for which it must take the necessary measures so that the environment is free of contamination, and so that the alterations produced by both man and nature, in the near or distant surroundings, do not constitute an injury to the environment or to the health of the people who inhabit it.
This right is especially recognized when it is associated with other fundamental rights, such as the right to education. The latter is configured as a fundamental right, which translates into the public service provided by the State in the country's various educational centers. Therefore, the least the State can do is to ensure that, when providing this public service, it does not injure other fundamental rights, such as the right to health and a healthy environment, of both the students and the teaching and administrative staff of the educational institution …” (see in this regard, among others, judgments No. 2007-017719 of 3:50 p.m. on December 5, 2007, No. 2012-014633 of 9:05 a.m. on October 19, 2012, No. 2018-003873 of 09:30 a.m. on March 9, 2018).
It was proven that the protected minors are regular eighth- and tenth-grade students at the Miramar High School. Furthermore, it was corroborated that this educational center is located on properties of the Partido de Puntarenas No. 46283, which is registered in the name of the Administrative Board of the Montes de Oro High School, and 751179-2001, which is unregistered land with an area of 9179.29 m². Regarding the educational center's facilities, it was verified that, despite the repeated requests made by the Administration and the Administrative Board of the Miramar High School, as well as the Regional Directorate of Education of Puntarenas, for an intervention in the facilities of that educational center and the construction of the infrastructure required to adequately serve the enrolled student population, the reproached physical-sanitary problems continue without proper attention, since the improvement plans formulated by the administration for these purposes have not been completely fulfilled.
This is because, as can be inferred from technical report MS-DRRSPC-DARSMO-IT-00099-2025 of June 5, 2025, not only does the infrastructure exist, but the appropriate conditions to serve the current educational population—which exceeds the locative capacity of the High School by slightly more than 40%—are lacking, since not only have classrooms had to be improvised to serve the students, but the facilities do not satisfy ideal spatial-architectural conditions, such as the quantity and functionality of sanitary fixtures, handwashing stations, and drinking fountains, as well as signage, emergency bells in sanitary fixtures, lighting fixtures, free access in the case of the library, and architectural barriers. Furthermore, there are no current certificates regarding the electrical and LP gas installations. There is also no operating permit, and the perimeter mesh is in very poor condition. Regarding the gymnasium, the sanitary orders issued to the respondent ministry continue to be unfulfilled.
On the other hand, although it is true that at the time this amparo action was filed, the situation of the property on which the Miramar High School is located remained unregularized, since the cadastral map (plano catastrado) had not yet been prepared and all the requirements needed to process the possessory information (información posesoria) for the property in question had not been met, the respondent ministry has not ensured compliance with the requirements necessary for the registration and transfer of the property.
In sum, the Directorate of Educational Infrastructure and Equipment of the Ministry of Education has neglected its obligation to manage and provide the educational center with appropriate facilities, so the amparo must be granted, with the consequences indicated in the operative part of this resolution.
In principle, I consider that cases related to the activity or inactivity of the Public Administration in the repair, construction, modification, or demolition of any infrastructure work must be dismissed, because that omission constitutes a matter of legality whose discussion belongs to the ordinary jurisdiction, before which the interested party can debate their disagreements with greater breadth. However, when from that administrative conduct (omissive or not) a violation of other fundamental rights protected in this constitutional jurisdiction is derived, or groups considered vulnerable are affected, I do proceed to hear the merits of the matter, as this situation constitutes an exception to my position on this subject, as occurs in this case, in which the appellant alleges that the protected parties are regular students of the Miramar High School and that this educational center has, for years, lacked appropriate physical-sanitary conditions.
The parties are warned that if any document was provided on paper, as well as objects or evidence contained in any additional electronic, computer, magnetic, optical, telematic, or new-technology device, these must be withdrawn from the office within a maximum period of 30 business days counted from the notification of this judgment. Otherwise, any material not withdrawn within this period will be destroyed, pursuant to the provisions of the "Regulation on the Electronic File before the Judiciary," approved by the Corte Plena in session number 27-11 of August 22, 2011, article XXVI, and published in the Judicial Bulletin number 19 of January 26, 2012, as well as in the agreement approved by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, in session number 43-12 held on May 3, 2012, article LXXXI.
THEREFORE:
The appeal is granted. José Leonardo Sánchez Hernández and Lourdes Sáurez Barboza, in their capacity as Minister of Public Education and Director of Educational Infrastructure of the Ministry of Public Education, respectively, or whoever holds those positions, are ordered to arrange and coordinate what is necessary so that, within a period of ONE YEAR, counted from the notification of this judgment, the existing physical-sanitary deficiencies at the Miramar High School are corrected, and the necessary physical infrastructure to facilitate the necessary academic preparation of the protected student population is contemplated and built. The respondents are warned that, in accordance with the provisions of article 71 of the Law of Constitutional Jurisdiction, a prison term of three months to two years, or a fine of twenty to sixty days, shall be imposed on anyone who receives an order that must be fulfilled or enforced, issued in an amparo proceeding, and does not fulfill it or enforce it, provided the offense is not more severely punishable. The State is ordered to pay the costs, damages, and losses caused by the facts that serve as the basis for this declaration, which shall be liquidated in the execution of judgment in the contentious-administrative jurisdiction. Judge Salazar Alvarado adds a note. Notify.
\t Fernando Castillo V.
President \t Fernando Cruz C.
\t \t Paul Rueda L.
Luis Fdo. Salazar A.
\t \t Jorge Araya G.
Ingrid Hess H.
\t \t Jorge Isaac Solano A.
FILE No. 25-006155-0007-CO Classification prepared by the CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER of the Judiciary. Its reproduction and/or distribution for profit is prohibited.
It is a faithful copy of the original - Taken from Nexus.PJ on: 08-05-2026 10:21:02.
Sentencia con nota separada Indicadores de Relevancia Sentencia relevante Sentencia con datos protegidos, de conformidad con la normativa vigente Contenido de Interés:
Temas Estrategicos: Der Económicos sociales culturales y ambientales Tipo de contenido: Voto de mayoría Rama del Derecho: 4. ASUNTOS DE GARANTÍA Tema: EDUCACIÓN Subtemas:
INFRAESTRUCTURA Y CONDICIONES.
018787-25. EDUCACIÓN. SE ORDENA AL MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, QUE, EN EL PLAZO DE UN AÑO, SE CORRIJAN LAS DEFICIENCIAS FÍSICO- SANITARIAS EXISTENTES EN EL LICEO DE MIRAMAR Y, SE CONTEMPLE Y CONSTRUYA LA INFRAESTRUCTURA FÍSICA NECESARIA PARA FACILITAR LA PREPARACIÓN ACADÉMICA NECESARIA DE LA POBLACIÓN ESTUDIANTIL AMPARADA. VCG07/2025 “(…) IV.- CASO CONCRETO. Se acreditó que las personas menores de edad amparadas son estudiantes regulares de octavo y décimo año cursa del Liceo de Miramar. Además, se corroboró que ese centro educativo se ubica en las fincas del Partido de Puntarenas No. 46283, que está inscrita a nombre de la Junta Administrativa del Liceo Montes de Oro y 751179-2001, que es terreno sin inscribir con un área de 9179,29 m2. En lo que concierne a las instalaciones del centro educativo, se verificó que, pese a las reiteradas solicitudes que han formulado la Dirección y la Junta Administrativa del Liceo de Miramar, así como la Dirección Regional de Educación de Puntarenas, a efectos de que se realizara una intervención de las instalaciones de ese centro educativo y se construya la infraestructura que se requiere para atender adecuadamente a la población estudiantil matriculada, los problemas físico- sanitarios reprochados continúan sin atenderse apropiadamente, pues los planes de mejora que ha formulado la administración a esos efectos no se han cumplido completamente, pues, según se colige del informe técnico MS-DRRSPC-DARSMO-IT-00099-2025 de 5 junio de 2025, no solo existe la infraestructura, sino las condiciones apropiadas para atender a la población educativa actual -que sobrepasa en poco más de 40 % la capacidad locativa del Liceo-, puesto que, no solo se han tenido que improvisar aulas para atender a los educandos, sino que las instalaciones no satisfacen condiciones espaciales arquitectónicas idóneas, tales como cantidad y funcionabilidad de servicios sanitarios, lavamanos y bebederos, así como señalización, timbres de emergencia en los servicios sanitarios, luminarias, accesos libres en el caso de la biblioteca y barreras arquitectónicas.
Además, se carece de certificados vigentes en lo que respecta a las instalaciones eléctricas y de gas lp. Tampoco se cuenta con permiso de funcionamiento y la malla perimetral se encuentra en muy mal estado. En lo que concierne al gimnasio, continúan sin cumplirse las órdenes sanitarias giradas al ministerio recurrido.
De otra parte, si bien es cierto al momento en el que se incoó este amparo continuaba sin regularizarse la situación del inmueble en el que se ubica el Liceo de Miramar, puesto que continuaba sin elaborarse el plano catastrado y sin cumplirse todos los requisitos que se requieren tramitar la información posesoria del fundo en cuestión, el ministerio recurrido no ha velado por que se cumplan los requisitos que se requieren para la inscripción registral y traspaso del fundo.
En suma, la Dirección de Infraestructura y Equipamiento Educativo del Ministerio de Educación, ha desatendido su obligación de gestionar y dotar al centro educativo de instalaciones apropiadas, por lo que corresponde estimar el amparo, con las consecuencias señaladas en la parte dispositiva de esta resolución. (…)” ... Ver más Contenido de Interés:
Tipo de contenido: Nota separada Rama del Derecho: 4. ASUNTOS DE GARANTÍA Tema: EDUCACIÓN Subtemas:
INFRAESTRUCTURA Y CONDICIONES.
En tesis de principio, considero que los casos relacionados con la actividad o inactividad de la Administración Pública en la reparación, construcción, modificación o demolición de cualquier obra de infraestructura, deben ser desestimados, por constituir, esa omisión, un tema de legalidad, cuya discusión corresponde a la jurisdicción ordinaria, ante la cual la persona interesada puede debatir, con mayor amplitud, sus disconformidades. Sin embargo, cuando de aquella conducta administrativa (omisiva o no) se derive alguna violación a otros derechos fundamentales tutelados en esta jurisdicción constitucional, o se afecten grupos considerados vulnerables, sí entro a conocer el fondo del asunto, por constituir esta situación una excepción a mi posición en esta materia, tal y como sucede en este caso, en que la parte recurrente alega que las amparadas son estudiantes regulares del Liceo de Miramar y que ese centro educativo, desde hace años carece de condiciones físico- sanitarias apropiadas.
VCG07/2025 ... Ver más SALA CONSTITUCIONAL DE LA CORTE SUPREMA DE JUSTICIA. San José, a las nueve horas veinte minutos del veinte de junio de dos mil veinticinco .
Recurso de amparo promovido por Nombre01, cédula de identidad CED01, a favor de Nombre02 Y Nombre03 , contra el MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN PÚBLICA.
RESULTANDO:
“… El Gimnasio del Liceo de Miramar, tiene deficiencias físico-sanitarias, proceder a cumplir…
Presentar un plan de mejoras, en donde se incluya un cronograma de actividades, con fechas de inicio y finalización, responsables y acciones a realizar, en un plazo que no sobrepase los 6 meses para el cumplimiento de los trabajos…
Intervenir de forma inmediata el sistema eléctrico, principalmente el que utilizan las áreas ubicadas en la parte de atrás de la gradería…
Contar con un sistema eléctrico que cumpla con la normativa vigente del país, presentando a esta Área Rectora de Salud, una certificación eléctrica por parte de un ingeniero…
Restringir el uso de las últimas tres filas a lo largo de la gradería y en el último sector se agregue una fila más, mantenimiento esta restricción hasta tanto no se realicen las reparaciones a la estructura…
Sustituir los elementos de madera que presentan daños por humidad, uso y / o comején…
Reparar los elementos de acero que presentan daños por corrosión…
Eliminar el ingreso de agua pluvial a las graderías…
Reparar y eliminar las filtraciones que escurren por los servicios sanitarios y vestidores…
Mantener en todo momento, el orden y aseso de todas las instalaciones del Gimnasio, incluyendo los servicios sanitarios, vestidores, pasillos y alrededores…
Eliminar residuos sólidos de los alrededores del gimnasio y disponerlos de manera sanitaria…
Acondicionar el aula que se ubica debajo de la gradería, reuniendo con las condiciones mínimas requeridas de confort y seguridad, tanto para los docentes, como para los estudiantes…”.
Dicha orden sanitaria, se encuentra cumplida desde el 4 de julio de 2023. Asimismo, se emitió el 29 de agosto de 2023, las órdenes Sanitarias No. ARS-MO-OS-00112-2023 (al director regional de Educación de Puntarenas), No. ARS-MO-OS-00113-2023 (a la entonces ministra de Educación), N°ARS-MO-OS-00114-2023 (a la directora del Liceo de Miramar) y N°ARS-MO-OS-00115-2023 (a la presidenta de la Junta de Educación), todas notificadas el día 08 de setiembre de 2023 y con plazo de cumplimiento de 7 meses calendario, el cual venció el 29 de marzo de 2024, se ordenó:
“… En atención al Plan de Acciones Correctivas en respuesta al ordenamiento sanitario N°ARS-MO-OS-00038-2022, se procede a aprobar con las fechas indicadas el plan de acciones correctivas, y se solicita proceder a cumplir en el plazo arriba indicado…
Intervenir de forma inmediata el sistema eléctrico, principalmente el que utilizan las áreas ubicadas en la parte de atrás de la gradería…
Contar con un sistema eléctrico que cumpla con la normativa vigente del país, presentando a esta Área Rectora de Salud, una certificación eléctrica por parte de un ingeniero CAPDEE…
Restringir el uso de las últimas tres filas a lo largo de la gradería y en el último sector se agregue una fila más, mantenimiento esta restricción hasta tanto no se realicen las reparaciones a la estructura…
Reparar los elementos de acero que presentan daños por corrosión, bajo aprobación e inspección posterior de este Ministerio de Salud…
Eliminar el ingreso de agua pluvial a las graderías, bajo aprobación e inspección posterior de este Ministerio de Salud…
Reparar y eliminar las filtraciones que escurren por los servicios sanitarios y vestidores, bajo aprobación e inspección posterior de este Ministerio de Salud…”.
Mediante el Informe Técnico de Inspección No. MS-DRRSPC-DARSMO-IT-00080-2025 de 19 de mayo de 2025, suscrito por el Equipo de Regulación de la Salud, se consignó:
“… CONCLUSIÓN.
La orden sanitaria N° ARS-MO-OS-0038-2022 se encuentra cumplida al presentarse el plan de mejoras que se solicitada.
Con respecto al Plan de mejora solicitado en el ordenamiento sanitario ARS-MO-OS-0038-2022, de los 10 puntos a solventar, 4 están cumplidos, 5 están en estado parcialmente cumplidos y uno Sin Cumplir, de lo cual derivó el ordenamiento sanitario ARS-MO-OS-00114-2023.
Con respecto al ordenamiento sanitario N°ARS-MO-OS-000114-2023 [sic], de los 5 puntos solicitados, se encuentran cumplidos un punto, 3 están parcialmente cumplidos y uno sin cumplir, por lo que el mismo se encuentra en condición incumplida…
No se evidencia cumplimiento del plan remedial presentado por el MEP, de lo cual ya vencieron los plazos establecidos para la ejecución de las Etapas 1 y 2.
El plazo de cumplimiento del ordenamiento ARS-MO-OS-00114-2023 el cual condicionaba el Permiso Sanitario de Funcionamiento venció el 29 de marzo del 2024, al igual que el permiso provisional otorgado al Centro Educativo, por lo que, de momento, el mismo se encuentra sin el permiso respectivo y el ordenamiento incumplido…”.
Redacta la Magistrada Hess Herrera; y,
CONSIDERANDO:
El recurrente acota que sus dos hijas son estudiantes regulares del Liceo de Miramar y que ese centro educativo, desde hace años carece de condiciones físico- sanitarias apropiadas, pues, no solo existe un faltante de aulas y talleres, que obliga a los menores educandos a recibir clases en ranchos, bajo los árboles, en corredores y en pasillos, sino que existen ordenes sanitarias que no se han atendido, lo que implica que sus hijas tengan que recibir lecciones de Educación Física en un lugar inseguro y sin las condiciones mínimas para funcionar, dado que las cercas perimetrales se encuentran en muy mal estado y no se cuenta con la seguridad necesaria para garantizar la integridad de los menores y la protección de los bienes institucionales. Por todo lo expuesto, estiman vulnerados los derechos fundamentales reclamados.
De relevancia para la decisión del presente amparo se tienen por demostrados los siguientes:
Este Tribunal en la sentencia No. 2023006254 de las 9:15 horas de 17 de marzo de 2023, se refirió al tema en discusión, estimando en lo que interesa:
“… El derecho a la salud reconocido en los artículos 21 de la Constitución Política, 1 y 11 de la Declaración Americana de los Derechos y Deberes del Hombre, 4 de la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos y 10 del Protocolo Adicional a la Convención Americana sobre Derechos Humanos en Materia de Derechos, se encuentra íntimamente ligado al derecho a vivir en un ambiente sano y equilibrado, consagrado en el artículo 50 constitucional. La calidad ambiental es un parámetro fundamental de la calidad de vida; al igual que la salud, alimentación, trabajo, vivienda, educación, entre otros. En consecuencia, el Estado tiene la obligación de procurar una protección adecuada al ambiente, para lo cual debe tomar las medidas necesarias a fin de que el medio esté libre de contaminación, y que las alteraciones producidas tanto por el hombre como por la naturaleza, en el entorno próximo o lejano, no constituyan una lesión al ambiente ni a la salud de las personas que en él habitan.
Se reconoce especialmente este derecho cuando está asociado a otros derechos fundamentales, como lo sería el derecho a la educación. Este último se configura como un derecho fundamental, el cual se traduce en el servicio público que brinda el Estado en los distintos centros educativos del país. Por lo tanto, lo menos que puede hacer el Estado es que al brindar la prestación de este servicio público no lesione otros derechos fundamentales, como sería el derecho a la salud y a un ambiente sano, tanto de los estudiantes como del personal docente y administrativo de la institución educativa …” (véanse en este sentido, entre otras, sentencias No. 2007-017719 de las 15:50 horas de 5 de diciembre de 2007, No. 2012-014633 de las 9:05 horas de 19 de octubre del 2012, No. 2018-003873 de las 09:30 horas de 9 de marzo de 2018).
Se acreditó que las personas menores de edad amparadas son estudiantes regulares de octavo y décimo año cursa del Liceo de Miramar. Además, se corroboró que ese centro educativo se ubica en las fincas del Partido de Puntarenas No. 46283, que está inscrita a nombre de la Junta Administrativa del Liceo Montes de Oro y 751179-2001, que es terreno sin inscribir con un área de 9179,29 m2. En lo que concierne a las instalaciones del centro educativo, se verificó que, pese a las reiteradas solicitudes que han formulado la Dirección y la Junta Administrativa del Liceo de Miramar, así como la Dirección Regional de Educación de Puntarenas, a efectos de que se realizara una intervención de las instalaciones de ese centro educativo y se construya la infraestructura que se requiere para atender adecuadamente a la población estudiantil matriculada, los problemas físico- sanitarios reprochados continúan sin atenderse apropiadamente, pues los planes de mejora que ha formulado la administración a esos efectos no se han cumplido completamente, pues, según se colige del informe técnico MS-DRRSPC-DARSMO-IT-00099-2025 de 5 junio de 2025, no solo existe la infraestructura, sino las condiciones apropiadas para atender a la población educativa actual -que sobrepasa en poco más de 40 % la capacidad locativa del Liceo-, puesto que, no solo se han tenido que improvisar aulas para atender a los educandos, sino que las instalaciones no satisfacen condiciones espaciales arquitectónicas idóneas, tales como cantidad y funcionabilidad de servicios sanitarios, lavamanos y bebederos, así como señalización, timbres de emergencia en los servicios sanitarios, luminarias, accesos libres en el caso de la biblioteca y barreras arquitectónicas.
Además, se carece de certificados vigentes en lo que respecta a las instalaciones eléctricas y de gas lp. Tampoco se cuenta con permiso de funcionamiento y la malla perimetral se encuentra en muy mal estado. En lo que concierne al gimnasio, continúan sin cumplirse las órdenes sanitarias giradas al ministerio recurrido.
De otra parte, si bien es cierto al momento en el que se incoó este amparo continuaba sin regularizarse la situación del inmueble en el que se ubica el Liceo de Miramar, puesto que continuaba sin elaborarse el plano catastrado y sin cumplirse todos los requisitos que se requieren tramitar la información posesoria del fundo en cuestión, el ministerio recurrido no ha velado por que se cumplan los requisitos que se requieren para la inscripción registral y traspaso del fundo.
En suma, la Dirección de Infraestructura y Equipamiento Educativo del Ministerio de Educación, ha desatendido su obligación de gestionar y dotar al centro educativo de instalaciones apropiadas, por lo que corresponde estimar el amparo, con las consecuencias señaladas en la parte dispositiva de esta resolución.
En tesis de principio, considero que los casos relacionados con la actividad o inactividad de la Administración Pública en la reparación, construcción, modificación o demolición de cualquier obra de infraestructura, deben ser desestimados, por constituir, esa omisión, un tema de legalidad, cuya discusión corresponde a la jurisdicción ordinaria, ante la cual la persona interesada puede debatir, con mayor amplitud, sus disconformidades. Sin embargo, cuando de aquella conducta administrativa (omisiva o no) se derive alguna violación a otros derechos fundamentales tutelados en esta jurisdicción constitucional, o se afecten grupos considerados vulnerables, sí entro a conocer el fondo del asunto, por constituir esta situación una excepción a mi posición en esta materia, tal y como sucede en este caso, en que la parte recurrente alega que las amparadas son estudiantes regulares del Liceo de Miramar y que ese centro educativo, desde hace años carece de condiciones físico- sanitarias apropiadas.
Se previene a las partes que de haber aportado algún documento en papel, así como objetos o pruebas contenidas en algún dispositivo adicional de carácter electrónico, informático, magnético, óptico, telemático o producido por nuevas tecnologías, estos deberán ser retirados del despacho en un plazo máximo de 30 días hábiles contados a partir de la notificación de esta sentencia. De lo contrario, será destruido todo aquel material que no sea retirado dentro de este plazo, según lo dispuesto en el "Reglamento sobre Expediente Electrónico ante el Poder Judicial", aprobado por la Corte Plena en sesión número 27-11 del 22 de agosto de 2011, artículo XXVI y publicado en el Boletín Judicial número 19 del 26 de enero de2012, así como en el acuerdo aprobado por el Consejo Superior del Poder Judicial, en la sesión número 43-12 celebrada el 3 de mayo de 2012, artículo LXXXI.
POR TANTO:
Se declara con lugar el recurso. Se ordena a José Leonardo Sánchez Hernández y a Lourdes Sáurez Barboza, en su condición de ministro de Educación Pública y de directora de Infraestructura Educativa del Ministerio de Educación Pública, respectivamente, o a quienes ejerzan esos cargos, que dispongan y coordinen lo necesario a efecto que, en el plazo de UN AÑO, contado a partir de la notificación de esta sentencia, se corrijan las deficiencias físico- sanitarias existentes en el Liceo de Miramar y, se contemple y construya la infraestructura física necesaria para facilitar la preparación académica necesaria de la población estudiantil amparada. Se advierte a los recurridos que de conformidad con lo establecido en el artículo 71 de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional, se impondrá prisión de tres meses a dos años, o de veinte a sesenta días multa, a quien recibiere una orden que deba cumplir o hacer cumplir, dictada en un recurso de amparo, y no la cumpliere o hiciere cumplir, siempre que el delito no esté más gravemente penado. Se condena al Estado al pago de las costas, daños y perjuicios causados con los hechos que sirven de base a esta declaratoria, los que se liquidarán en ejecución de sentencia de lo contencioso administrativo. El magistrado Salazar Alvarado pone nota. Notifíquese.
Fernando Castillo V.
Fernando Cruz C.
Paul Rueda L.
Luis Fdo. Salazar A.
Jorge Araya G.
Ingrid Hess H.
Jorge Isaac Solano A.
Clasificación elaborada por SALA CONSTITUCIONALdel Poder Judicial. Prohibida su reproducción y/o distribución en forma onerosa.
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