Parents of children at the ‘Amanat i K’ Child Development Correction Centre in Kostanay are reporting systematic abuse of children with developmental disabilities. According to the victims, the children were not only beaten, but also poorly fed, sanitary standards were ignored, and paid correctional classes were not provided.
According to the Telegram channel ‘HALYQSTAN’, the parents have submitted applications to the prosecutor's office, the education department, and the department for quality assurance in education.
According to the statement, in one incident, a four-year-old girl was diagnosed with a linear fracture of the right parietal bone, a closed head injury, a brain concussion, and a cerebral contusion. It is alleged that medical assistance was not provided to the child at the facility—staff called the parents and suggested they take the girl to the hospital themselves.
Reviewing footage from CCTV cameras in the groups revealed the following violations:
- a teaching assistant kicked a young child in the head;
- staff and a trainee at the kindergarten treated at least six children roughly and with the use of physical force;
- a teaching assistant lies in the children's beds daily;
- the quiet time, in violation of the schedule, lasts too long—from 12:30 until 4:00 p.m.
The footage also revealed violations of the children's mealtime and hygiene routines. Furthermore, instead of correctional classes, the children were often shown cartoons, even though, due to their medical conditions and diagnoses, these children are medically advised against spending long periods in front of a television.
Additionally, extra classes were hardly ever conducted with the children, even though parents paid 55,000 tenge per child each month.
Meanwhile, the police department of Kostanay region stated that an investigation is underway regarding the cruel treatment of children.
‘Regarding the failure to properly fulfil duties for the upbringing of minors, combined with cruel treatment towards them, the police are conducting a pre-trial investigation in accordance with Article 140 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This concerns the actions of teachers or employees of institutions responsible for supervising children. All necessary investigative actions are currently being carried out,’ the statement said.
Additionally, an inspection has been launched at the institution by the education department of Kostanay region. The department confirmed that the children's centre receives state funding from ‘Financial Centre’ JSC as part of an educational order for preschool upbringing and education. Consequently, the department sent a letter regarding the suspension of transfers intended for ‘Amanat i K’.
The incident at the ‘Amanat i K’ centre fits into an alarming trend of child abuse in specialised institutions in Kostanay. For example, on the night of 28 June, a 9-year-old boy was brought to Kostanay regional hospital with a closed fracture of the middle third of the clavicle with displacement. The child lives in a Special Social Services Centre and suffers from autism and mental retardation.
According to CCTV footage, a nurse's aide was with the boy, who twice led him from the room to the toilet. The moment of the injury was not captured by the camera, but an expert examination is being conducted.
In April, another shocking incident was recorded at the same Centre: during a conflict situation, a female teacher burned with a hot iron a 16-year-old girl with a psychoneurological diagnosis. The incident occurred in the presence of other employees of the institution. The investigation into this matter is also ongoing.