Safeguarding international schools in Argentina: country guide

Education in Argentina is run by the provinces and the City of Buenos Aires. Private and bilingual schools register with the local education ministry. Most international schools sit in and around Buenos Aires.

Many schools run the IB or a British or US track next to the national curriculum. Accreditation from CIS, COBIS or NEASC adds to Argentine law. It never replaces it.

International schools in Buenos Aires must ensure their policies reflect both national legislation and jurisdictional rules from the City or Buenos Aires Province. External accreditation frameworks provide valuable structure, but Argentine legal duties take precedence in every safeguarding matter.

Law 26.061 is the main law. It treats children as holders of rights and sets up a system of child rights bodies at national, provincial and local level.

The Penal Code punishes abuse and sexual offences against children. The Civil and Commercial Code of 2015 bans physical punishment of children in every setting.

Under Argentine law, corporal punishment is strictly prohibited in all educational settings. School codes of conduct must clearly define boundaries around physical discipline, staff-student contact and positive classroom management.

School leaders must ensure that both teaching faculty and operational staff receive clear instruction on non-violent discipline and pupil dignity.

At national level, the Secretariat for Children, Teens and Family (SENAF) leads. Each province and the City of Buenos Aires has its own child rights council.

Article 30 of Law 26.061 states that staff at schools, public or private, must report a breach of a child's rights. Reports go to the local child rights body. Staff who fail to report can face penalties.

Your policy should match this. Every adult tells the DSL the same day, and the DSL makes the referral. Read our guide to mandatory reporting laws for international schools.

If a pupil is in danger now, call 911 at once. Then tell your DSL and the Head. Post these numbers in Spanish and English in every staff room.

• 911: police emergencies.
• 102: free advice and referral on the rights of children and teens.
• 137: help for victims of family and sexual violence, where the line runs.
• The local child rights council or protection body for your district.
• Your DSL: tell them the same day, so the school logs and follows up.

Many international schools in Buenos Aires serve bilingual communities where students switch between Spanish and English throughout the day.

When a student speaks to an adult about abuse or neglect, give them your full attention. Never promise secrecy, but reassure the child that they did the right thing by speaking up.

Write down the child's exact words immediately after the conversation. Record the date, time, setting and any non-verbal behaviour before handing the file to the DSL.

• Active listening: Let the pupil speak at their own pace without interruption.
• Verbatim notes: Document the exact words used rather than your own interpretations.
• No investigative questions: Do not press for details or question the account.
• Immediate delivery: Hand written notes to the designated safeguarding lead the same morning.

Ask local staff for a criminal record certificate from the National Recidivism Registry before they start work. Ask staff from abroad for police checks from every country they have lived in.

The primary check is the Certificado de Antecedentes Penales from the Registro Nacional de Reincidencia. It confirms whether a candidate has any active criminal record or court disqualification within the Republic of Argentina.

For international educators, request authenticated police clearance certificates from their country of origin and any previous duty stations. Verify references through direct spoken conversations with former heads of school.

Take references from past Heads of School. Log every check on your single central record, as set out in safer recruitment for international schools.

Law 25.326 covers personal data in Argentina. The AAIP enforces it. Data about health counts as sensitive data and needs extra care.

Under Law 25.326, safeguarding records contain sensitive data requiring strict administrative and technical safeguards. Keep confidential case files separate from general student records in role-restricted databases.

Schools must establish clear record retention policies that align with guidance from the AAIP and local statutes of limitations. When a child transfers to another school, ensure that welfare summaries transfer securely.

The law limits sending data to countries without adequate protection. Ask a lawyer to review your cloud hosting. The law does not stop you reporting abuse.

Work through this list in your first month. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

• Confirm your school registration with the provincial or city education ministry.
• Find the child rights body that takes reports for your district.
• Post 911, 102 and 137 on staff boards in Spanish and English.
• Check that every hire has a Reincidencia certificate and checks from abroad.
• Train guards, drivers and kitchen staff in Spanish.
• Check your data registration and cloud hosting with your data lead.