The educational landscape in Cundinamarca, Colombia, has been deeply shaken following a landmark administrative ruling. The departmental government has officially ordered the closure and cancellation of the operating license for the Gimnasio Campestre Los Laureles Bilingüe, delivering a strong message regarding institutional accountability and student safety.
This decisive action follows a comprehensive administrative investigation into the tragic death of young student Valeria Afanador. Afanador disappeared from the school grounds and was tragically found deceased on August 29, 2025, in a nearby river adjacent to the institution.
Why the License Was Canceled
According to departmental authorities, the school failed significantly in its fundamental duty to care for and protect its students. The investigation highlighted critical deficiencies in emergency protocols, particularly the total lack of structured institutional procedures to handle the sudden disappearance or loss of location of a student.
Investigators pointed out that when the minor went missing, the school's response was characterized by "improvised and uncoordinated actions" among staff members. While teachers mentioned general evacuation drills, the Gobernación established that no concrete emergency route existed for search-and-rescue operations.
Furthermore, the proximity of the Frío River was heavily scrutinized. Although the school acknowledged the nearby body of water, risk assessments were poorly tailored, focusing strictly on minor recreational flooding rather than potential catastrophic safety hazards for unsupervised children.
A Phased Shutdown and Legal Fallout
The definitive closure will not take place immediately, allowing students to finish the current academic calendar. However, the institution's rector, Sonia Ochoa Daza, faces a strict deadline of October 31, 2026, to present an orderly Student Relocation Plan to the Cundinamarca Secretariat of Education.
Beyond the administrative penalties, the Gobernación has transferred vital case files to the Fiscalía General de la Nation for further criminal investigation.
Legal battles are already underway. In June 2026, victims' attorney Julián Quintana reported that prosecutors had charged staff members Emely Fuentes and Danny Javier Ochoa Prada with involuntary manslaughter (homicidio culposo) due to their direct security and surveillance responsibilities on the day of the incident. However, the victim's family remains vocal about their dissatisfaction, criticizing the exclusion of the school's rector from the current criminal imputations.
As this developing story continues to unfold, it sets a powerful precedent for private educational institutions across the region, putting student safety and rigorous emergency protocols directly under the microscope. Stay tuned to WhyThisBuzz for further updates on this developing case.
