Teacher responsible for nursery strangulation receives a prison sentence of four years
Almaty Kindergarten Teacher Sentenced for Child Abuse
A verdict has been handed down in Almaty, Kazakhstan, following a case of child abuse in a kindergarten. The defendant, a 20-year-old employee of a private institution, was found guilty of attacking a four-year-old boy six months ago.
The incident, which took place at the kindergarten in Almaty, involved the teacher using brutal methods to calm the child. The attack included covering the boy's mouth and preventing him from breathing.
The defendant admitted to being wrong and expressed regret for the incident. During the trial, the defendant apologized to the boy's father, Abylaikhan Rakhatov, who commented on the case. The teacher cried after expressing her apologies.
The trial and sentencing were reported by our site, citing KTK. The court sentenced the defendant to four years in prison and banned her from working with children for the next 10 years.
In light of this incident, Rakhatov suggested that potential employees should pass psychological tests for stress resistance.
The current laws and regulations for hiring and certifying preschool educators in Almaty emphasize comprehensive teacher training, accreditation, child safety measures, and the protection of children's rights. Preschool educators must complete accredited training programs, and educational institutions must comply with management and accreditation standards to ensure staff quality and safety.
Hiring requires degrees and often additional certificates such as TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA for language educators, indicating that certification and professional credentials are mandatory or strongly encouraged. Since September 2025, schools and preschools in the Almaty region must implement security systems, including turnstiles, licensed security service contracts, panic buttons, and direct links to police control centers.
The unified program "Children of Kazakhstan" is in preparation to cover seven key areas related to children’s rights and protection comprehensively. The law regarding the Status of a Teacher is being considered for amendments to strengthen legal protections for educators and ensure accountability.
This regulatory framework is led and monitored by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education in collaboration with local authorities (akimats) to ensure uninterrupted operation of security systems and adherence to new quality standards.
Rakhatov's suggestion for potential employees to pass psychological tests for stress resistance highlights the need for rigorous screening processes for preschool educators to protect children and prevent incidents like the one in question.
[1] Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan [2] Kazakhstan's Teacher Certification Body [3] Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Education" [4] Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education and Science
- To prevent similar incidents in the future, it would be beneficial for the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan to consider incorporating rigorous psychological evaluations for stress resistance into their hiring process for preschool educators, as proposed by Abylaikhan Rakhatov.
- In the vein of safeguarding education-and-self-development in Kazakhstani preschools, it is essential for Kazakhstan's Teacher Certification Body and the Ministry of Education and Science to strengthen their regulatory framework, ensuring potential teachers undergo comprehensive evaluations to maintain a safe learning environment for children.
