Anuar Quesille, the National Children's Ombudsman, told the Chamber of Deputies' Education Commission that the government's 'Protected Schools' project fails to address the root causes of violence in educational settings.
Testifying before the commission, Quesille argued that the initiative's heavy emphasis on surveillance and sanctions lacks the necessary focus on psychosocial support and mental health.
“We see where it fails,” Quesille stated, criticizing the project for prioritizing control and police intervention over structural prevention.
A focus on control over care
The 'Protected Schools' initiative proposes several measures to curb violence in schools, including bag inspections, bans on face coverings, and restricting university subsidies for individuals with certain criminal convictions.
Quesille argued that while the state must respond to school violence, any response must remain proportional and compatible with the rights of minors.
“The problem with this project is that it focuses mainly on control, inspection, sanction, and police intervention,” Quesille said. “It does not develop preventive measures, psychosocial support, school coexistence, or mental health with the same strength.”
He noted that the current legislative approach promises order but fails to build the structural conditions needed to prevent violence sustainably or repair the damage caused by past incidents.
Quesille called for a paradigm shift, moving from a policy of "punishing first" to one of "caring first."
He warned that schools reflect broader societal issues, including poverty, crime, and a lack of social protection. According to the Ombudsman, the current proposal lacks the necessary integration to address these complex layers.
“Behind every act of violence is a life story that reflects the abandonment of children by the State,” Quesille said.
He concluded by urging lawmakers to adopt technical, evidence-based solutions rather than ideological ones, asserting that the current project fails to meet the gravity of the crisis.