Fernando Peña, national director of Junaeb, traveled to Calama to coordinate psychosocial support for the Instituto Obispo Silva Lezaeta community after an inspector's homicide on March 27. In meetings with local officials, he outlined immediate actions and announced a temporary support device. The effort aims to ensure a safe return to classes for about 1,300 students.
On March 27, an 18-year-old student stabbed an inspector to death and injured four others at the Instituto Obispo Silva Lezaeta in Calama, Antofagasta region.
Junaeb national director Fernando Peña arrived in the city on Monday to coordinate on-site psychosocial support. He met at the Delegación Presidencial Provincial de El Loa with Cosam Calama clinical manager Galvarino Pérez Guajardo, Antofagasta Education Seremi Carolina Moscoso, regional Junaeb director Nellie Miranda, rector Alejandra Zamora, and parents. He later met representatives from the Calama Student Federation.
Peña announced the rollout of the Dispositivo de Apoyo Psicosocial Transitorio (DAPS), part of the Programa Habilidades para la Vida (HPV), to assist the affected community. "In line with the work of President José Antonio Kast's government and the Ministry of Education led by Minister María Paz Arzola, our priority today is to be present in the commune and involve everyone in the education system," Peña stated.
The strategy involves on-site support, socioemotional impact assessment, monitoring, and accompaniment for recovery. Carolina Moscoso noted that "today's session was based on a well-planned outcome and an intersectoral approach." Peña added that early detection efforts would be strengthened in Antofagasta and Tocopilla.
These steps aim to restore security and normal operations at the school.
