The bad weather that affected the Metropolitan Region and much of Chile has led to the suspension of classes in several communes. Due to heavy rains and strong winds, many areas have suffered power cuts that have not yet been resolved. As a result, some communes have decided to close schools on Monday, August 5, and in certain cases, they will not reopen until Wednesday, August 7.
The Ministry of Education (Mineduc) announced through its Twitter account that the suspension The school closure is affecting “some establishments in the Coquimbo and Los Ríos regions” due to infrastructure problems and power outages caused by the frontal system. This has been a necessary measure to ensure the safety of students and educational staff in the face of inclement weather.
In the Metropolitan Region, five communes have decided to suspend the classes in its entirety. These communes are Colina, Independencia, Lampa, Padre Hurtado and Quilicura. The Mineduc has published a complete list of all the regions, communes and establishments affected, which is available on its official website and is constantly updated with new information.
The suspension The suspension of classes does not only affect the aforementioned communes, but also extends to other parts of the country. In total, 115 communes have decreed this measure, impacting approximately 170 thousand students. The Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalve, explained that “744 establishments throughout the national territory have suspended classes.” He added that many of these schools are without electricity, which prevents them from operating according to the current regulations.
In addition to the power outages, some schools have suffered structural damage, such as blown-off roofs, which has exacerbated the situation. The safety of students is the priority, and therefore, the authorities have taken these precautionary decisions. It is hoped that as the situation stabilizes, classes will safely resume.
