Boiling water poured on child in Tashkent kindergarten (video)

The editorial office of QALAMPIR.UZ has received a disturbing complaint regarding an incident that occurred at Preschool Educational Institution No. 6 in Almalyk, Tashkent region, on March 5, 2025, around 12:00 p.m.

According to the report, due to a lack of safety measures and negligence on the part of staff, a 3-year-old child suffered third-degree burns to the lower back after boiling water was poured on him. The injury was reportedly caused by the children being left unsupervised.

The child’s mother, who submitted the complaint to QALAMPIR.UZ, stated that no action was taken by the kindergarten administration or the city’s Department of Preschool and School Education following the incident. She claimed that when she raised concerns about safety with the kindergarten director, her concerns were dismissed. According to her, the director responded by saying, “I myself was burned as a child,” implying such accidents were normal.

The mother further alleged that the kindergarten routinely subjects children to forced labor. She claimed that children are made to clean toilet bowls, are mocked if they fail to lift heavy buckets, and are forced to carry garbage with their bare hands. She also provided photographs to support these claims.

“After my son was burned, he was diagnosed with neurosis. He went through severe emotional stress, and now has visible scars on his back. He’s not allowed to use public swimming pools without a permanent medical certificate. If the 6th kindergarten caused this, when will the responsible organizations finally act?” the mother stated.

She also criticized the response of the Internal Affairs Directorate, claiming they downplayed the case by categorizing it as an accident that occurred while the child was playing.

To clarify the situation, QALAMPIR.UZ contacted the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Representative of the Oliy Majlis for Children’s Rights—the Children’s Ombudsman.

According to Dilfuza Sabirova, press secretary of the Ministry, the incident occurred due to lack of supervision, and the child received third-degree burns. He was immediately taken to the emergency room for treatment. Medical staff subsequently contacted emergency services. During the investigation, the child’s mother reportedly stated that she had no complaints, and the case was closed based on mutual agreement.

However, the mother later took to social media to raise concerns about the ongoing mistreatment of children and other unsafe conditions at the kindergarten.

The Tashkent Regional Department of Preschool and School Education has since launched a formal investigation. A working group has been created, all documents have been compiled, and the case has been forwarded to law enforcement authorities. An official report on the results will be released.

The case has also been taken under the supervision of the Children’s Ombudsman. Surayyo Rakhmonova, Representative of the Oliy Majlis on Children’s Rights, confirmed that the mother’s complaint is now being reviewed in cooperation with relevant institutions.

It is worth noting that on April 10 of this year, a separate incident occurred in Guzar district, Kashkadarya region, where a teacher allegedly poured boiling water on a 6-year-old boy at Preschool Institution No. 4.