In the East Kazakhstan region, parents of school students have complained about unsanitary conditions in the school canteen. In the village of Ulken-Naryn, children found a worm in their soup.
According to ORDA, the head of the parents' committee, Oksana Zanina, reported that a similar incident occurred in September. At that time, she said, a worm was also found in a plate, but there was no evidence.
“At the time, the teacher said it was ‘seasoning’. We didn’t have a photo, so we couldn’t prove anything. Now the children sent the pictures to their parents themselves,” the woman said.
The school said it had launched an internal investigation. The institution’s administration stated that it had demanded an explanation from the canteen operator.
“We contacted the canteen operator, demanded an explanation and a sanitary clean-up. We will conduct an unscheduled inspection together with the supervisory authorities. Children’s safety is our priority,” the statement said.
The education department also said it would strengthen control over the quality of meals in all schools in the district.
For context, earlier parents of students at Almaty School-Gymnasium No. 65 reported serious violations of sanitary standards in the school’s canteen.
They published videos and photographs showing dirty dishes, mould on the walls, and a cluttered lift used to serve food.