In late May, a teacher at School No. 275 in Tashkent physically assaulted a 9th-grade student, sparking widespread debate on social media. The injured teenager was hospitalized, and a criminal case was initiated against the teacher but later dropped.

Experts interviewed by the newspaper revealed new details. Pediatrician Muazzam Ibrohimova, who examined the victim, stated that two students were beaten. She noted: “The child exhibited ataxic movements, was frightened, and temporarily lost speech. It was situational stress.”

Ibrohimova believes both sides are at fault: “On one hand, there are mischievous children; on the other, a teacher who started the lesson late. Students were splashing water. Rizqiddin (the assaulted student) poured water again. I am not justifying anyone.”

Education expert Komil Jalilov identified three levels of systemic issues: school education, teacher training, and society. He said schools lack specialized staff to handle misbehavior, leaving teachers alone. Additionally, teacher training neglects conflictology and child psychology.

Family psychologist Manija Maliki highlighted the age gap: “The teacher is an adult and should know how to work with teenagers. At 16, adolescents are at a peak of hormonal changes, with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex. But this does not justify physical violence by the teacher.”

Maliki also noted a severe shortage of school psychologists: one psychologist per 700-1,500 students. She stressed the need to address systemic problems.

It was also revealed that during the court proceedings, student witnesses and parents were not interviewed, and their opinions were ignored. Experts call for reforms in the education system to prevent such incidents.

Source: www.gazeta.uz