On the night of Sunday, August 16, just hours before the start of a new school week, the Regional Directorate of Education of Metropolitan Lima (DRELM) announced an exceptional measure. In coordination with the UGELs, it decided to suspend in-person classes only on Monday, August 17, in the most affected areas of the designated districts. The decision came in response to adverse weather conditions that complicated the normal development of educational activities. Thus, thousands of students will have to stay home and continue their academic work through another modality.
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From early on, the classrooms in the sectors covered by the measure will remain empty, while teachers and students will move their activities to the virtual environment. The provision aims to prevent the educational community from being exposed to situations that could put their safety at risk. Educational authorities prioritized prevention in the face of the effects generated by the weather in the identified areas. Therefore, the day will have a different scenario than usual, with classes conducted remotely. This is a temporary response while the conditions that motivated the suspension persist.
Tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th, what all parents and students in the southern area of Lima are asking: Will there be classes?
From the early hours, the heavy rains that hit southern Lima left streets flooded and complicated traffic in several areas. In this scenario, educational authorities decided to suspend in-person classes on Monday, August 17, in Villa María del Triunfo, Villa El Salvador, and San Juan de Miraflores. The decision was made as a preventive measure to avoid students and teachers being exposed to the difficulties caused by the storm. Flooding and the collapse of some drainage systems marked the day. As a result, schools in the affected areas had to modify their usual routine.
Communiqué No. 05-2026-DRELM states that accessibility problems were decisive in making this decision. Roads affected by flooding hindered the movement of the educational community to the schools. As long as these conditions persist, the priority will be to preserve the safety of students, teachers, and other workers. However, uncertainty continues for the following day, as there is still no confirmation about a possible suspension of in-person classes on Tuesday the 18th. Families should stay alert to official channels for any new directives.
How did parents react to the suspension of classes throughout the southern area of Lima?
Monday morning began with doubts for many families in San Juan de Miraflores, Villa María del Triunfo, and Villa El Salvador. Many parents said they only found out at the start of the day that in-person classes had been suspended in certain areas. The news raised concern about the possibility that the weather conditions might force the measure to be extended. As the hours passed, questions multiplied on social media. One of the main questions was whether students would continue their activities virtually this Tuesday the 18th.
However, the provision does not apply to all schools in Metropolitan Lima, but only to those located in the affected sectors of the three districts. The DRELM explained that the decision aims to reduce risks during the movement of students, teachers, and workers. The rains caused difficulties on various access roads and also affected part of the educational infrastructure. Amid complicated streets and restricted access, authorities chose to prioritize the safety of the school community. For now, families remain attentive to new official communication about the continuity of classes.
What did the authorities recommend to parents regarding the situation in the entire sector?
With in-person classes suspended for this Monday, the DRELM asked parents and guardians to stay attentive to the instructions of each school. However, educational activity did not stop and continued virtually in the areas covered by the measure. From home, students must connect to the platforms and check the information groups to know schedules and assignments. Authorities reminded that these channels will be key during the day. The priority, they said, is to protect the educational community while the difficulties caused by the rains persist.
As cleaning efforts progress, authorities keep the condition of schools and access roads under observation. The DRELM explained that any decision about a possible extension of the suspension will depend on the conditions found during inspections. Monitoring will be continuous to determine if educational spaces meet the necessary conditions to receive students again. So far, there is no confirmation about the suspension of in-person classes for Tuesday, August 18. Families should wait only for official statements to know how the school day will continue.
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