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Banco Central de Reserva de El Salvador (BCR) held the awards ceremony for the XXV Certamen de Investigación Técnica Bachiller 2026, an initiative aimed at fostering high school students’ interest in scientific research, the analysis of issues of national importance, and the development of proposals that contribute to the country’s development.
This year’s competition focused on the theme “The Impact of Security on El Salvador’s Economic Growth”, a topic that allowed participants to examine how changes in security have influenced various aspects of economic and social life. Through their research, the students addressed issues related to investment, productive activity, trade, education, and development opportunities in their communities.
First place was awarded to Axel Fernando Zepeda Calderón, a student at the Complejo Educativo Católico “Nuestra Señora del Rosario”, located in the San Marcos district of San Salvador Sur. His work stood out for the depth of its analysis and its approach to the topic from a technical and well-founded perspective.
Second place went to Karla Paola Sánchez Rodríguez, a student at the Instituto Nacional de San Miguel Tepezontes in La Paz Centro. During the ceremony, the student explained that her research combined information from national and international organizations with fieldwork conducted in her own community, which allowed her to supplement the statistical data with the experiences and perceptions of residents.
“My research is supported by studies from national and international organizations, but I didn’t rely solely on this information; I also conducted my own study in my community”, said the young researcher as she shared part of the methodology she used to develop her project.
Third place went to David Emmanuel Núñez Vanegas, a student at the Instituto Nacional “Walter Thilo Deininger”, in Cojutepeque, in southern Cuscatlán. His participation rounded out the list of winners in a competition that brought together students from across the country.
This year’s call for entries saw broad participation, with 257 young researchers accompanied by 139 faculty advisors from 101 educational institutions spread across the country’s 14 departments. These figures reflect the contest’s national reach and the interest of educational institutions in promoting research as a tool for learning and analyzing the reality of El Salvador.
The event also highlighted the students’ perspectives on the changes they have observed in their communities. Karla Sánchez noted that improvements in public safety have had a direct impact on young people’s daily lives. “Thanks to improved safety, we young people feel free to walk the streets and use our devices without fear, as well as having the opportunity to study at the institution or location of our choice”, she said.
Through this competition, the BCR continues to foster spaces that strengthen the analytical skills of salvadoran youth and promote the generation of knowledge on strategic issues for the country. Likewise, the initiative seeks to encourage critical thinking and student participation in developing proposals that contribute to El Salvador’s economic and social development.
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