Safeguarding international schools in Ecuador: country guide

Under the Ley Organica de Educacion Intercultural (LOEI), schools must maintain a Department of Student Counseling (DECE). DECE counselors handle student welfare disclosures and file formal reports with local district directors.

Private schools in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca work under the Ministry of Education. The Ministry sets school rules. It oversees student welfare through local district teams.

Many private schools teach IB, American or British courses. They hold approval from bodies like NEASC or CIS.

School leaders must follow Ecuadorian child rules. Review our guide on ITFCP child protection standards to balance local and global standards.

Every private school in Ecuador must follow national child law. School status does not remove local reporting duties.

Schools must verify that applicants hold a valid Certificado de No Tener Impedimento Legal issued by the Ministry of Labor. Human resources teams also request criminal history certificates directly from the Ministry of the Interior.

Ecuadorian law sets strict child safety rules under the LOEI school act. Every school must set up a student care team, called the DECE. This team leads student wellbeing and safety.

Staff who see or suspect physical, emotional or sexual abuse must act fast. Under LOEI Article 64, the school rector must report the case within 48 hours. Reports go to the Junta Cantonal and the Fiscalia.

In cases of physical danger, schools call DINAPEN right away. This is the child police unit. Staff must not try to solve serious claims through quiet talks in school.

Check our guide on safeguarding referrals and multi-agency working to ensure fast compliance.

DECE teams must log all interventions in confidential student files within forty-eight hours. Case logs must document factual chronology, support measures, and notifications sent to the Cantonal Rights Protection Board (JCPD).

If a child is in danger now, call ECU 911 right away. Then tell your Designated Safeguarding Lead and Rector on the same day.

For child welfare help, call DINAPEN. Write down all facts, dates and witness statements.

• ECU 911: national line for police, fire and medical rescue.
• DINAPEN: police unit that checks crimes against children.
• Junta Cantonal: local office setting child protection orders.
• Fiscalia General: public office handling criminal inquiries.

Safe hiring rules protect children from harm. Schools must ask all local job applicants for a clean penal record check.

Under LOEI rules, people convicted of crimes against children face a life ban from school work. Teachers from abroad must show police checks from their home country.

School heads must check past work records. Human resources should speak to past school leaders by phone or video call.

Explore our guide on Single Central Record maintenance to keep staffing files audit-ready.

Personal data law sets privacy rules across Ecuador. Child safety notes, logs and DECE files contain private details.

Schools must keep child safety files separate from general school records. Digital systems must use strict role rules to lock down access.

Class teachers and clerks should not read secret case notes. Only the DSL, rector and counselor should see these chronologies.

Parent consent is not needed when sharing facts with child police to protect a child. Review our guidance on how to record safeguarding concerns for practical rules.

When a student tells a staff member about abuse or fear, listen calmly and with care. Staff must never promise to keep a secret for the student.

Explain gently that the DECE lead or DSL must be told to keep the child safe. Write down the student's exact words as soon as the talk ends.

Do not ask leading questions or try to check the facts on your own. Hand your written note to your lead before leaving school today.

When a claim involves family members, the school must talk to the Junta Cantonal or Fiscalia first. This step protects the child from danger at home.

• Stay calm: Listen without showing shock, anger or fear.
• Do not promise secrets: Explain who you must tell to keep the child safe.
• Write exact words: Record what the child said without guessing.
• Notify the DSL: Hand the written report to the lead the same day.

All teachers, aides and office staff must take child protection training each year. Training must cover spotting signs of physical harm, sexual abuse and online bullying.

Bus drivers, campus guards and cleaning staff must also complete training each year. Support staff often see pupil interactions across school buses, corridors and playgrounds.

Check our advice on safeguarding training levels to set up clear, campus-wide training plans.