This was stated by the acting Education Minister, Alejandra Arratia, interviewed on the subject when there are only a few days left before the beginning of the school year, on March 5.

“We are working hard to start the school year as scheduled, advancing in the repair of the schools that were affected,” she said.

Arratia considered important that children in disaster areas can return to classes and resume their routine.

“The school is a space for learning, but also for protection and care,” she said.

In conversation with Radio Pauta, she informed that in Viña del Mar and Quilpué there are three schools damaged by the flames and others are being used as temporary shelters and storage centers.

The minister announced the signing of an agreement to provide modular spaces and emergency infrastructure for the children of the Villa Independencia school.

In the other cases, special funds will be used for repairs.

Besides, the educational authority said that students will receive support with school supplies and also in pedagogical terms, what is known as emergency pedagogy, so that they can have time to talk about what happened and process it.

The incident, which began in early February and killed 133 persons,left thousands of homes, industrial zones and small businesses destroyed, is considered the worst disaster after the 2010 earthquake.

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