Recently, in Uzbekistan's social networks, a series of unpleasant videos related to rough treatment of children in preschool educational institutions, beating them, and exerting physical and psychological pressure has caused strong public outrage. Effect.uz journalists Mukhammad Ali Kozokov and Akmal Eshonkhonov conducted consecutive journalistic investigations to study the horrific events that occurred in kindergartens in the Urgut district of Samarkand region and the flaws in the education system.
Parents had filed complaints with the editorial office against Gamirova Albina, who had been working as an assistant educator at State Kindergarten No. 1 in Urgut district for a month and a half. According to the allegations, she intimidated children, deprived them of blankets as punishment, made them wash carpets, and even used physical force. Most terrifyingly, one of the children who came to the kindergarten had a rope mark on their neck. During the investigation, it was revealed that glue was intentionally applied to the surveillance camera in the group to block its field of view and hide subsequent acts of violence. Gamirova Albina, who initially denied the accusations, was eventually forced to admit that she was the one who broke the camera.
According to the director of the institution, Gamirova Albina did not come to work despite several warnings and notices. As a result, she was dismissed due to a gross violation of her labor duties and unexcused absenteeism from March 2 to March 13, pursuant to Clause 5 of Part 2 of Article 161 of the Labor Code. Currently, all surveillance cameras in the institution have been repaired and put back into operation. Once a healthy environment was restored, the number of children in the group increased back to 30, and guarantee letters were obtained from other educators promising not to commit acts of aggression against children.
Another sensational incident in Urgut district was observed in the non-state kindergarten named "Kozmunchoq". A video leaked online showing a kindergarten educator raising a hand against a child "for the purpose of calming them down" because the child interfered with the lesson process. Currently, pre-investigation checks are being conducted by juvenile prevention inspectors of the district internal affairs department. However, following this incident, false promises made to the press by officials of the Special Department came to light. Rustam Yuldoshev, the head of the regional preschool and school education department, stated during a meeting with journalists that he would not hide the problem and favored openness, promising to form a working group to visit and investigate the site together with the Effect.uz team. However, when arriving at the kindergarten the next day, it turned out that the working group had come and gone without the journalists, and the press secretary picked up the phone and resorted to covering up the situation and openly lying under the pretext of "not interfering with entrepreneurial activity." As it turns out, the "Kozmunchoq" kindergarten had been operating illegally on its own accord without ever obtaining a license from the ministry.
Rustam Yuldoshev, head of the Samarkand regional preschool and school education department, stated that there are over 35,000 state and non-state kindergartens in the region, and emphasized that it is unfair to condemn the entire system because of a single negative incident. In his opinion, cases of violence in kindergartens are caused by the irresponsibility of certain managers and their failure to fully control the process. At the same time, a number of school and kindergarten directors who were unworthy of their positions have been dismissed. To improve personnel potential, requirements regarding criminal records and mental health during hiring are being tightened.
At a time when such serious law violations and systemic crises are being observed in remote regions, Minister of Preschool and School Education Ezozkhon Karimova, who visited Bukhara region to review the progress of educational reforms and study local problems and shortcomings, answered questions from Effect.uz reporter Mukhammad Ali Kozokov regarding the achievements and shortcomings of the system.
During this exclusive interview, the minister expressed special gratitude to media representatives who expose flaws in the system and serve as a genuine bridge between the public and civil servants.
According to the minister, per the president's assignment, teachers' knowledge will no longer be tested through dry attestation tests, but rather based on a modern system that evaluates their true pedagogical mastery, and a special career ladder will be created for teachers.
To improve management quality within the system, the entire chain—from school directors to district department heads and regional department officials—will undergo phased training in special management courses.
To teach young people how to use modern technologies correctly and effectively, special training manuals have been imported from China, which are currently being translated and adapted to the Uzbek language and national system, and will soon be delivered to schools.
The minister specifically noted that the Bukhara education system has rich experience, and the region's potential is very high, especially in exact and natural sciences, mentioning that during her visit she also familiarized herself with the educational processes in Karakul district.
In conclusion, it should be said that the growth of our children in a safe and healthy environment depends on the mutual cohesion of the family and the education system. If parents do not talk to their child every day and monitor how their day at kindergarten went, existing shortcomings in the sector will continue to cast a shadow over our children's future. Where there is control, there is no room for violence.
The editorial office will take this topic under full control and continue its investigations in the regions.
Prepared by Mukhammad Ali Kozokov.
