In January, children with disabilities were beaten in a specialized kindergarten in Chirchiq. A month later, a 6-year-old child suffered severe electrical burns in a state kindergarten in Fergana. In July, it was revealed that children were brutally tortured in a private kindergarten in the capital.

According to Lola Berdiyeva, director of the Department for Coordination of Preschool Education, 36 cases of child abuse were recorded in all preschools in Uzbekistan in 2025-2026, including beatings and deaths. “Usually one or two children are affected; there are no mass cases,” she says.

Berdiyeva notes that most violence occurs in private kindergartens due to lack of ministry oversight. “Previously, we couldn't enter private kindergartens because of the business ombudsman. From August 1, 2026, we have gained access for preventive visits,” she states.

Education expert Shokir Tursun argues that violence is not exclusive to the private sector. “Parents in state kindergartens are less vigilant, and surveillance is poorer, so cases in private kindergartens are more visible,” he says.

Tursun calls violence a systemic failure: “It's like Swiss cheese: holes in the system — lack of hiring control, anonymous complaint channels, and professional development — align to create violence.”

Family psychologist Rozaliya Gabdulkhakova warns that psychological trauma in preschool years can last a lifetime. “After one hit, restoring a child's trust takes time. If a caregiver is consistently abusive, the child may normalize it,” she explains.

The ministry has taken action against 53 employees, revoked licenses of 6 private kindergartens, and brought about 20 officials to criminal responsibility. Cases decreased in 2026, but the problem remains pressing.

Source: www.gazeta.uz