Stolen School Equipment? Ministry Projector Surfaces on Facebook Marketplace
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A high-resolution Casio projector, identified as property of the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education (MEP), was recently offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace for ¢47,990 (approximately $85 USD). The device bears a seal indicating its origin within the former National Educational Informatics Program (Pronie), a joint initiative between the MEP and the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD).
The listing described the equipment as “almost new,” with the seller claiming only 60 hours of use on a lamp rated for 20,000 hours. “It is almost new (…) Only serious people, it is sold or exchanged for something of my interest,” the seller reportedly stated in the online advertisement.
The incident raises serious questions about the security of educational resources and the potential for theft of government property. A reporter from The Nation contacted the seller to inquire about the projector’s provenance. The seller claimed to have purchased the device a year prior, using it only three times before deciding to resell. “I didn’t know that this was from the MEP. I bought it here and I had no problem with anything and they didn’t tell me anything. Rather what a shame,” the seller commented.
Ministry and Foundation Respond
Initial inquiries to the Ministry of Education yielded a cautious response. Minister Leonardo Sánchez Hernández indicated he would review the matter.Though, Otto Silesky, president of the FOD, reacted more swiftly, confirming that the foundation was not selling the projector.
“There have been cases like that on some occasions but (and what has happened) is that people have stolen school equipment,” Silesky stated.”Those are teams that were usually in schools.” He emphasized the need to trace the projector back to the specific educational center to which it was originally assigned and to potentially file a formal complaint.
The FOD released a statement before 5 pm local time, clarifying its current lack of involvement in the possession, use, distribution, safekeeping, or disposal of equipment from the former National educational Computing Program. “The omar Dengo Foundation deeply regrets that technological equipment designed to promote accessibility, inclusion and student learning is being offered in electronic commerce spaces or in the hands of people outside its original educational purpose,” the statement read.
Lingering Questions and a History of storage Issues
The incident comes amidst a backdrop of logistical challenges following the dissolution of the agreement between the MEP and the FOD in May 2023. For nearly two years, approximately 22,000 new devices remained stored at Global Removals, awaiting collection by the ministry.
The equipment,stacked on pallets,was eventually removed from the warehouse after the Comptroller general of the Republic (CGR) denied an extension requested by Mini
Why did this happen? A Ministry of Public Education (MEP) projector, originally part of the Pronie program, was offered for sale on Facebook Marketplace. The incident points to potential theft of school equipment.
Who was involved? The key players are the MEP, the Omar Dengo Foundation (FOD), the seller on Facebook Marketplace, and The Nation reporter who investigated.
What occurred? A reporter discovered a MEP projector for sale online. The seller claimed to have purchased it legitimately a year prior, unaware of its origin. the FOD confirmed they were
