Hidden Structure of Violence in Schools
Parents of students from School No. 7 in Karakol have appealed to the authorities, claiming the existence of a "system" of bullying. According to them, older students gather younger ones, extort money from them, and use physical force. One mother even recorded an open appeal to the head of the State National Security Committee, Kamchybek Tashiev.***
14-year-old Annas Aitbaev, an 8th grader at School No. 72 in the "Jal" microdistrict, was hospitalized on January 22 and died on February 4. The school claims that his injuries were the result of a fall in the restroom, but the parents are convinced that the boy was beaten by older students who demanded money from him.***
On February 12, a fight broke out between students at School No. 39 in the village of Manas, resulting in the death of a 9th grader. One of the participants, an 11th grader born in 2007, was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center for two months by court order.The First Comprehensive Study of the Problem
There has previously been a lack of systematic data on school violence. This year, the Ministry of Education conducted the first large-scale study involving 500 students from grades 5 to 11 across 50 schools, as well as over 200 parents and educators.The results of the study showed that the most common form of aggression is insults and mockery. 165 participants reported experiencing verbal bullying. Physical abuse, cyberbullying, and social exclusion are less common but still present in the school environment.
Children admitted that they sometimes feel fear about going to school due to the threat of violence.
When students were asked about the reasons for bullying, they highlighted the following factors:
- the desire to assert oneself;
- pressure from peers;
- problems in the family environment;
- just a joke;
- discrimination;
- I don't know.
Main Findings:
- The main risk factor is family dysfunction, including migration and parental divorce. There is also a disconnect between school and home: some parents, especially migrants, are completely disengaged from parenting, and schools lack mechanisms to involve them.
- Religion also plays an important role. On one hand, cases where girls are prohibited from attending school events or are required to wear headscarves negatively affect the school atmosphere; on the other hand, imams can promote tolerance.
- Many regions face a shortage of school psychologists, and teachers and social workers are overloaded with paperwork and may not always have the necessary qualifications for effective psychological work.
- Another important conclusion: the installation of surveillance cameras and strict measures can improve discipline in schools, but often push conflicts onto the streets and into the online space.
Opinions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Human Rights Defenders
Data from law enforcement agencies and human rights organizations confirm that school violence is not just an expression of aggression within educational institutions, but a systemic problem.According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in 2024, more than 1,500 crimes committed by minors were recorded. Over 3,600 children were registered with the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Department.
A study by the Ombudsman Institute showed that more than 70% of teenagers have encountered manifestations of hate on social networks, and over 60% in messaging apps, with 80% of such messages having a sexual undertone. Girls and women are more frequently victims of trolling, bullying, and blackmail.
According to the League of Child Rights Defenders, every second school student faces bullying.
Psychological pressure, extortion, and "dedovshchina" have become part of the everyday reality for teenagers.
Growing Risks for Children
Asel Chynbaeva, the Children's Rights Commissioner, notes that the child protection system is not prepared for new challenges.“Today we face a situation where the child protection system is confronted with modern challenges. Society is changing, and risks are also increasing. Despite the tightening of legislation, violence remains one of the most serious problems in 2025. An analysis of the situation shows that we are facing serious challenges such as the spread of online violence, destructive content, and cyberbullying,” she says.
Schools with Surveillance, But Problems Start at Home
Minister of Education Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva emphasizes that her department is taking measures, but without active parental involvement, they are ineffective.“A function for reporting incidents of violence has been implemented in the 'Kundoluk' system. Over the past six months, more than 2,500 children have submitted reports, which have been forwarded to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education. If measures had not been taken in a timely manner, the statistics on school violence could have been even more alarming. Currently, 80% of schools are equipped with surveillance cameras, monitoring and preventive work is underway. We can control what happens in educational institutions. But how many parents have been held accountable for improper treatment of children or negligence in their upbringing?” the minister noted.
Asel Chynbaeva also believes that parents need support. She shares that this year she traveled extensively across the country and spoke with parents who admitted they do not know how to have conversations with their children. Surveys of children show that difficulties in communicating with adults negatively affect their mental state.
“It was surprising to me that parents are asking for help, as many admit they cannot start a conversation with their child, and there is a lack of communication in the family. Children sometimes report suicidal thoughts when they feel misunderstood by their parents. Parents also need to be trained on how to communicate with children, as it is not their fault. There are many factors that increase the distance between children and adults,” says Chynbaeva.
What to Do?
Asel Chynbaeva believes that an important step is the development of digital literacy for both parents and educators as well as the children themselves.“Forced migration and emotional burnout among adults increase risks for family well-being. Problems in interaction between schools, medical institutions, law enforcement agencies, and the prosecutor's office hinder timely responses to issues. The lack of psychologists, crisis centers, and mobile groups reduces the opportunities for long-term rehabilitation of children and increases the risk of repeated violence. It is important to create a support infrastructure and ensure systematic assistance for children in difficult situations,” she concluded.
