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Original article: Oposición recurrirá al TC por proyecto «Escuelas Protegidas»: «Permite procedimientos policiales invasivos a menores de 14 años y no informar a apoderados»

The Chamber of Deputies has approved the government’s «Protected Schools» initiative, which the administration claims «establishes measures for security, order, and respect within the educational community.»

However, following its general approval (with 103 votes in favor, 43 against, and 3 abstentions), opposition members have expressed concerns about the proposal and are even considering a potential challenge in the Constitutional Court.

«Kast’s government aims to undermine the rights of children and adolescents under the guise of addressing school violence,» criticized Deputy Lorena Fries (FA), who warned that the approved project «allows invasive police procedures on minors under 14, does not inform guardians, and implements other severe measures.»

«Brutal. We will go to the Constitutional Court,» stated the Frente Amplio lawmaker.

Continuing this sentiment, Humanist Deputy Ana María Gazmuri cautioned that the Chamber «rejected all amendments aimed at imposing limits, protecting rights, and providing minimum guarantees for children and adolescents.»

«The amendments would have required training and experience for professionals overseeing the program, prevented forced examinations even for children under 14, limited physical contact, safeguarded privacy, included guardians, protected students with special needs, and instituted controls on police actions,» the parliamentarian pointed out.

«What remains then? A project that establishes surveillance, control, and a punitive logic within schools, without addressing the root problem: the crisis of mental health and coexistence,» added Gazmuri, who confirmed the filing of a constitutional reserve and a request to the Constitutional Court.

«This is not protection. It is penal populism at the expense of our students,» the Humanist legislator asserted.

Meanwhile, Deputy Ignacio Achurra (FA) remarked, «the right is putting on a sad and dangerous show in the Chamber. Capitalizing on legitimate public concern, they approved a project that allows education assistants and teachers to search students’ backpacks and belongings without any educational tools or additional resources.»

For him, «this lacks any standard, being conducted arbitrarily based on mere prejudices. If a student refuses, the police are called. They may conduct bodily searches on children (which current legislation does not even permit) without any limits and without notifying parents.»

«In summary, responsibilities that belong to the police are being transferred to those responsible for educating and building trust with their students,» emphasized Achurra.

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La entrada Opposition to Challenge ‘Protected Schools’ Project in Constitutional Court Over Invasive Police Procedures for Minors se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.