Significant changes have taken place in the system for working with troubled adolescents in Uzbekistan. This was reported by Upl.uz.
Starting from March 2025, the staff of psychological inspectors, previously under the National Guard, has been integrated into the Ministry of Internal Affairs system. This reform is being implemented to make the mechanism for preventing crimes among youth and early detection of risks more effective, said Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Bekmurod Abdullaev.
According to him, this change requires a shift from formal supervision, such as monitoring school attendance, to deeper preventive activities. “We do not deny the significant contribution of National Guard personnel and will continue cooperation with them.
However, their functions were limited. Working with adolescents in risk groups does not end with merely recording missed classes.
Responsibility for school attendance primarily lies with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education. Our main task is to steer young people away from the path of crime,” Abdullaev said.
A key factor in justifying the reform was the limited resources available to the National Guard. Regularly freeing up classes and working with students prone to misconduct requires a continuous and comprehensive approach.
Now, psychological inspectors will directly utilize all resources of the law enforcement system. This includes close cooperation with local prevention inspectors, neighborhood committees, and social and legal assistance centers within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Abdullaev cited cases where youth are involved in drug distribution as an example. “Such cases fall directly under the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Criminal investigation officers are involved. Therefore, psychological inspectors have been given more opportunities and tools for effective intervention and prevention of negative consequences.
Such powers did not exist within the National Guard system,” he said. To prepare for new responsibilities, all inspectors underwent intensive retraining during the summer holidays.
Twenty-day training sessions were organized at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy. Renowned psychologists, university lecturers, and specialists from the National Social Protection Agency conducted the classes.
At the end of the training, all specialists were awarded certificates. Analyses conducted within the new system revealed serious shortcomings in the electronic Kundalik.com system.
For example, cases were identified where students marked as attending classes for several years had actually left the country or were serving sentences. This emphasizes that the work should focus not only on record-keeping but also on real crime prevention.
According to Nilufar G‘iyosova, an officer of the Public Safety Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at the beginning of the 2025/2026 academic year, the psychological inspector staff was increased to 2,000 specialists. Each inspector oversees five schools and maintains constant contact with the school administration, school psychologist, and those responsible for spiritual and educational work.
Specialists visit their assigned schools daily to analyze reasons for missed classes and other concerning situations, as well as to identify potential threats early. The neighborhood institutions in Uzbekistan, which closely cooperate with psychological inspectors, are a unique form of local governance with a long history.
In 2023, the activities of neighborhood committees were recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This once again confirms their important social role in community life.
