A group of disadvantaged schoolchildren will show up for the first day of class this morning equipped with notebooks, rulers, colored pencils and other supplies thanks to the San José-based Association for Children's Smiles (ASONI) of Cristo Rey.

The back-to-school gift pack came as a donation from Hotel Presidente and is set to benefit 315 children from two of the association's shelters, one located in the San José barrios of Cristo Rey and Sagrada Familia.

“We firmly believe that the best way to guarantee a healthy and successful future for children is through education. Education is the best way to keep youngsters off the street and safe from its dangers,” said Hotel Presidente's operations manager Katherine Carter in a statement. The hotel gave the gift, worth ¢3 million (about $6,000), as part of its corporate social responsibility program.

However, unlike these supply-carrying pupils, the schools themselves will not be so prepared. Costa Rican children by the busload (almost 1 million) are descending on schools this morning for the first day of the new academic year, but public education authorities haven't done their homework – and there might not be enough buses to get the kids there.

As of last week, the Education Ministry was still scrambling to hire school-buses and teachers.

Many school buildings are in dire shape and many more lack desks, ministry officials told The Tico Times.

Read the current print or digital edition of The Tico Times for more on Costa Rica's back to school blues.