The mother of a four-year-old girl has accused a teacher at a private daycare center in Astana of beating her daughter. Police have opened a criminal case, according to infohub.kz.
According to Yerkenaz Koshkinbai, after returning from daycare, her daughter came home with a swollen face and bruises. Medical workers documented injuries on the child.
The woman said the girl was born prematurely weighing about 500 grams. Over four years, she underwent several major surgeries on her heart and eyes. The child attended the private daycare with her older sister.
"The teacher hid it, saying that she has such a character, that she is lively, and that she only scolded her. But it turned out she beat her," the girl's mother said.
The parents learned about the incident from the five-year-old sister of the victim. According to the mother, after the incident both girls have been sleeping poorly and refuse to return to the daycare. The woman had to quit her job to take care of the children herself.
TV journalists reported that the facility operates in a private cottage. Two groups with about 30 children were combined, and one teacher now looks after them. The employee accused by the family refused to appear on camera.
Relatives claim that during a medical examination, other injuries were found on the child. Additionally, after the incident, the girl developed problems with involuntary urination. The family intends to consult a psychologist and seek criminal prosecution of the teacher.
The Astana police department confirmed the start of an investigation.
"A criminal case has been opened on the grounds of failure to fulfill duties of raising a minor, including cruel treatment," said Aruzhan Bektasova, senior inspector of the press service of the Astana Police Department.
Investigators are currently establishing all circumstances of the incident. A procedural decision will be made based on the investigation results.
The parents also complained about the shortage of places in state kindergartens, which forces them to turn to private institutions. According to the Seventh Channel, their services in the capital start from 100,000 tenge per month.
Starting next year, all preschool organizations in Kazakhstan must switch to mandatory licensing. Requirements are planned to be tightened for premises, teaching staff, educational programs, infrastructure, and material and technical equipment of kindergartens.