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Former INA Director Claims Dismissal After Questioning Open English Contract Process
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ท Costa Rica /Economy & Trade

Former INA Director Claims Dismissal After Questioning Open English Contract Process

From La Naciรณn · (3d ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A former director of the National Institute of Learning (INA) in Costa Rica claims she was dismissed for questioning a process that led to a contract with Open English.
  • Eleonora Badilla Saxe was removed from her position by the Governing Council in April 2025.
  • The INA has partnered with Open English to offer free English courses through the Hello Brete platform.

The National Institute of Learning (INA) finds itself embroiled in controversy following the dismissal of Eleonora Badilla Saxe, a former director who alleges her removal stemmed from her objections to a contract with Open English. This partnership, which aims to provide free English education through the Hello Brete platform, has now become the focal point of questions regarding transparency and due process within the institution.

Badilla Saxe's claims suggest a potential conflict between the INA's mandate and the decisions made by its Governing Council. Her assertion that she was "destituida tras cuestionar el proceso" (dismissed after questioning the process) raises serious concerns about internal governance and accountability. The timing of her dismissal, in April 2025, and the subsequent implementation of the Open English contract, warrant a closer examination of the events leading up to her removal.

From our perspective at La Naciรณn, ensuring the integrity of public institutions like the INA is paramount. While the goal of providing accessible English education is commendable, it should not come at the cost of transparency or by silencing internal dissent. The public has a right to understand how such contracts are awarded and whether all procedures were followed correctly. We will continue to follow this story closely to shed light on the matter and ensure accountability.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Naciรณn in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.