MEP opens disciplinary case against Limón teacher for absences

The Ministry of Public Education (MEP) notified the opening of disciplinary case No. 0456-2026 against interim teacher Anthony Josué Mayorga Rojas, assigned to the Colegio de Limón Diurno, for alleged unjustified absences from his workplace. Resolution DVM-A-DGTH-DAD-RES-3247-2026, issued at thirteen hours and nineteen minutes on August 4, 2026, was published in La Gaceta — Official Gazette No. 169 on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, page 91.

The process is being handled as a special dismissal procedure, in which the initially contemplated sanction is dismissal without liability for the State. The complaint was submitted via form DRH-FOR-06-DGD-540, dated July 22, 2026, and the file was assigned on July 30, 2026.

Imputed Facts

According to the statement of charges, the teacher, holder of identity card 7-0271-0470, in his capacity as an interim technical-professional education teacher, allegedly failed to report to work for ten days during the month of June 2026, without providing timely notice or submitting subsequent justification to his immediate superior within the legal timeframe:

• June 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19, 2026
• June 25, 26, 29, and 30, 2026

If corroborated, these facts could constitute a violation of the obligations and prohibitions of the position provided for in Article 21 of the Framework Law on Public Employment, in accordance with Article 81, subsection g) of the Labor Code.

Legal Framework and Directing Body

The procedure is based on Articles 21 and 22 of the Framework Law on Public Employment, and supplementarily on the General Law of Public Administration (Articles 211 et seq. regarding disciplinary liability, 214 et seq. regarding administrative procedure, 272 et seq. regarding access to the file, and 308 et seq. regarding ordinary procedure), as well as the Organic Law of the Ministry of Public Education and the MEP Autonomous Service Regulations.

Through resolution DMDAD-RES No. 1165-2026, dated July 28, 2026, the initiation of the procedure was ordered and Diana Araya Bejarano was designated as the Sole Directing Body. The notification of resolution DVM-A-DGTH-DAD-RES-3247-2026 was signed by Licentiate Arelis Sibaja Hernández.

Deadlines and Due Process Guarantees

The teacher has a period of fifteen business days, starting from the day following the receipt of the notification, to present his defense in writing and offer all evidence he deems relevant. Within the first ten days of that period, he may file any preliminary exceptions he considers pertinent.

• The defense must be presented before the MEP Department of Disciplinary Management, in San José.
• The file may be consulted in that department and a copy of it may be requested.
• In case of opposition, the teacher will be summoned to an oral and private hearing, where they may interrogate witnesses, present exculpatory evidence, and formulate conclusions.
• The ordinary resources of revocation and appeal before the office of the minister are applicable against the resolution.

Failure to present the defense or the refusal to designate a means for receiving notifications shall presume the waiver of the exercise of that right at this procedural stage.

Relevance

The case directly affects the educational community of Limón, as it calls into question the continuity of an interim teacher at a technical-professional teaching center of the Limón Regional Directorate of Education. The case is added to other disciplinary proceedings published in the same bulletin, reflecting the reinforcement of attendance controls and the sanctioning regime for teaching personnel in the country.

Source: La Gaceta — Official Gazette (Costa Rica), No. 169, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, p. 91 (official reference: DVM-A-DGTH-DAD-RES-3247-2026, IN202601114550).