Safeguarding international schools in Peru: country guide

Under Supreme Decree 004-2018-MINEDU, every private school must designate a School Coexistence Coordinator (Coordinador de Convivencia). This specialist leads child protection protocols and monitors campus relationships.

Private and international schools in Lima, Arequipa and Cusco work under the Ministerio de Educacion (MINEDU). The local UGEL office oversees school registration and inspection visits.

Many private colleges teach British, American or IB courses. They belong to groups such as ADCA or LAHC.

International schools must satisfy both host nation laws and international standards. Learn how ITFCP child protection standards support compliance with local education rules.

Every private school in Peru must follow national child protection laws. Teaching an overseas course does not remove host country child duties.

Under Law 29988, schools must check all teaching candidates against the National Register of Convictions. Peruvian law bars anyone convicted of sexual crimes or terrorism from school grounds.

Peru enforces strict child protection laws in all schools. Ley 30403 bans all corporal punishment and cruel treatment in schools, homes and care centers.

Ley 29719 requires every school to set up a student wellbeing team and keep an incident log. Schools must log severe bullying, violence and sexual abuse cases online. Staff submit reports to the MINEDU SiSeVe portal without delay.

In cases of suspected crime or home violence, the school must notify DEMUNA or the Fiscalia. Staff cannot resolve serious claims through quiet talks in school.

Read our guide to safeguarding policy templates to set up clear reporting steps.

If a child is in danger now, call 105 for police emergency help. Then tell your Designated Safeguarding Lead and Director on the same day.

When an issue does not need armed police help, call Linea 100. Keep written notes of all facts, dates and witness statements.

• 105: Policia Nacional del Peru national emergency line.
• Linea 100: Ministry of Women free 24-hour line in Spanish and Quechua.
• DEMUNA: municipal child protection office handling local child welfare reports.
• SiSeVe: official MINEDU digital portal for logging school violence cases.

Schools in Peru must follow strict screening under Ley 29988 and Ley 30901. These laws permanently ban individuals with convictions for sexual offenses or violent crimes from school work.

Job candidates must show clean police, penal and judicial records. International teachers must also provide certified police checks from their home nation and recent overseas postings.

School hiring teams must check past job references directly with former school leaders. Human resources should speak with past supervisors by phone or video.

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

Handling student safeguarding files in Peru is governed by Ley 29733. Safeguarding notes and psychological reports qualify as private personal data.

Schools must keep child protection records separate from general student academic files. Role rules must ensure that only authorized safeguarding staff access confidential case notes.

Parent consent is not needed when sharing facts with child police to protect a child. Schools must use encrypted digital platforms to store confidential files.

Review our guidance on how to record safeguarding concerns for detailed management strategies.

When a student discloses abuse, staff must listen with care. The adult must stay calm. Staff must never promise absolute secrecy to the student.

Staff should explain that the DSL or school counselor must be told to provide safety and support. Notes should document factual observations and student words using exact phrasing.

Do not ask leading questions or attempt to check the facts on your own. Pass the report to your designated safeguarding lead before leaving campus.

When an allegation involves family members, the school must consult DEMUNA or the Fiscalia before contacting parents. This precaution protects the child from retaliation or escalated danger.

• Stay calm: Listen without showing shock, anger or fear.
• Do not promise secrets: Explain who you must inform 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.

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