Teacher or abuser? Horrors in kindergartens

A caregiver pouring boiling water on a child, a kindergarten worker burning a child’s hand with a fork, a pupil left injured after being beaten, and even a toddler dying from electrocution — these are not scenes from a horror film, but real cases of cruelty and violence inflicted on vulnerable children in preschool institutions.

In recent months, the editorial office has received a growing number of complaints from parents reporting that their children are being physically abused in kindergartens. Despite the installation of surveillance cameras in classrooms, violence by some caregivers persists. In certain cases, it is alleged that management turns a blind eye to such actions. There have also been instances of footage being concealed or evidence destroyed. Some caregivers have even shared recordings of their own abusive behavior with acquaintances.

Between January 2025 and April 2026, dozens of such incidents have come to light. During this period, at least three toddlers died in preschool institutions due to accidents linked to staff negligence. This has raised serious concerns among parents and increased hesitation about enrolling their children in kindergartens.

In particular, reports have emerged from a private preschool in Namangan, where children were allegedly subjected to regular physical abuse. Additionally, on April 7 this year, reports surfaced from another private kindergarten in Navoiy, where a caregiver was accused of kicking and beating children in a younger group. Some children reportedly developed speech impairments due to fear, while others required hospitalization.

In response to such incidents, responsible authorities often limit themselves to issuing official statements. Typically, it is announced that the perpetrators’ employment contracts have been terminated. However, even in cases where administrative or criminal liability is applied, the penalties are often minimal. For example, last year in Tashkent, a caregiver who assaulted a five-year-old child was fined only three times the base calculation amount.

In reality, violence against women and children is not limited to sexual assault or restriction of freedom. Physical abuse against vulnerable children falls squarely within this category. The issue has been raised repeatedly, and the country’s leadership has emphasized on multiple occasions that violence against children is absolutely unacceptable.

In recent years, the preschool education system has expanded significantly. A decade ago, around 700,000–750,000 children attended kindergartens; today, that figure exceeds 2 million. The private sector has been widely engaged, and thousands of new institutions have been established through public-private partnerships. Currently, nearly 40,000 preschool institutions operate nationwide, the majority of which belong to the private sector.

Employment opportunities in the system have increased, caregivers’ salaries have been raised, and access to professional development and higher education has expanded. However, despite these improvements, continued cases of abuse by some caregivers indicate that serious systemic issues remain.

According to experts, these problems are largely linked to shortcomings in staff recruitment, as well as insufficient assessment of caregivers’ psychological condition and sense of responsibility. For some, physically punishing children has effectively become a method of “discipline,” even though international experience has long demonstrated that children can be raised effectively without violence.

Most importantly, children’s rights are firmly protected by law. A child is not just an ordinary citizen but an individual in need of special protection. No one — neither a parent nor a caregiver — has the right to subject a child to violence.

For more details, watch the full report on QALAMPIR.UZ’s official YouTube page.