After information appeared online about the possible bullying of a Year 8 pupil at the IT school-lyceum "Bilim-Innovation" in Shchuchinsk, the FBQ editorial team spoke to the teenager's mother and sent requests to the Police Department (PD) and the Education Directorate of Akmola Region. According to the woman's statement, a pre-trial investigation has been launched. However, the circumstances of another episode, in which, according to the mother, a dormitory employee was involved, have not been officially investigated.
WHAT THE PUPIL'S MOTHER SAID
According to the woman, after a verbal altercation, three Year 10 pupils surrounded the teenager, and two of them began hitting him on the torso. She also claims that the incident was captured on CCTV.
According to her, the teenager did not immediately tell her about what had happened. The mother learned of the incident when he came home for the weekend. After a conversation, the boy admitted that he had been beaten by older pupils.
She also reported an earlier episode: in the previous academic year, the head of the dormitory hit the teenager. The woman believes that this case influenced her son's attitude towards the possibility of obtaining protection. These circumstances have not yet been confirmed within the framework of an official investigation.
WHAT THE POLICE ESTABLISHED
According to the PD of Akmola Region, on 14 October 2026, following a statement from a resident of Astana about bodily injuries inflicted on her foster child, a pre-trial investigation was launched under paragraph 8 of part 2 of Article 109-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Battery").
The police reported that the identities of all those involved in the incident have been established. The video recording was seized and added to the case materials. A forensic medical examination has been ordered in respect of the minor.
The police intend to decide on measures regarding the parents and legal representatives of the minors involved in the incident based on the results of the investigation.
WHAT MEASURES THE EDUCATION DIRECTORATE TOOK
On 7 October 2026, a working group visited the IT school-lyceum. Following the monitoring, the administration was instructed to strengthen educational work and bring the prevention of offences among pupils into line with established requirements.
The department also pointed to the need to re-explain legislative norms to employees and to conduct briefings on the obligation to promptly inform management about situations that create risks to children's safety.
Four employees were subjected to disciplinary liability: the form tutor, the assistant educator, the acting deputy director for educational work and the head of the lyceum.
WHY THE PREVIOUS EPISODE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED
Separately, the education directorate commented on the mother's statement about the alleged use of physical force by the head of the dormitory in the previous academic year. According to the department, no investigation was conducted because no official appeal or complaint was received from the child's legal representative.
At the same time, the directorate conveyed the position of the lyceum administration, according to which the fact of physical impact was not confirmed. The explanation states that the pupil obstructed the movement of the social pedagogue, and the head of the boarding school stopped the teenager in order to curb his actions and ensure order. It is noted that the legal representative was promptly informed of the incident.
HOW THE EDUCATION ISSUE IS BEING RESOLVED
The mother claims that after the new incident, lyceum staff showed her the video recording but did not provide a copy. According to her, they promised to send the recording later, but she did not receive it. The police confirmed that the video material was seized and added to the case.
The woman removed the teenager from the lyceum and intends to transfer him to another school. The education directorate explained that to switch to distance learning, an application must be submitted, but the pupil must sit assessments in person at the attached school.
The editorial team also tried to contact the lyceum to obtain a comment from the administration on the circumstances described, but was unable to establish contact. At the time of preparing this material, the educational institution's position on the new incident had not been obtained.
