A private school in Grozny has been suspended following criticism from the minister.

Students from several classes at a private gymnasium in Grozny were transferred to other schools after the Chechen Minister of Education visited the institution and accused the administration of violations.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", in February 2025, the Minister of Education and Science of Chechnya, Khozh-Baudi Daayev, revoked the license of the private gymnasium after it was posted online A video was published showing a teacher hitting one student with a pointer and another on the head with her hand. The closure of the private school was preceded by a visit from Daayev.

Khozh-Baudi Daayev conducted an inspection of a private comprehensive school in Grozny "following a complaint about its activities." According to the minister, he was convinced that the educational process "was organized with gross violations," the state news agency Chechnya Segodnya reported today.

Dayev reported on the results of his visit to the school late in the evening of October 28 on his Telegram channel. "The inspection revealed a lack of conditions for normal learning: textbooks and necessary educational literature are missing; student notebooks are unfilled, indicating a formal approach to the educational process; interactive whiteboards are not used, electronic journals are empty; subject rooms, including the OBR and labor, are not properly equipped," the official listed.

A decision has been made to transfer all children from grades 5 through 9 to other schools.

He accused the school administration of "irresponsibility," which, in his opinion, "is unacceptable and jeopardizes the quality of the children's education." "Following the inspection, I have decided to transfer all children in grades 5 through 9 to other schools. All necessary conditions must be urgently created in elementary school classrooms! Negligence and formalism in education are unacceptable. Children must receive high-quality education in accordance with state standards, and any attempts to substitute imitation for real learning will be harshly suppressed," Daayev wrote.

The publication is illustrated with a video edited from footage taken during the minister's visit to the gymnasium. The video begins with a sign with the name of the comprehensive gymnasium: "Khafiz" (hafiz - a reciter of the Quran. - Ed. note from the "Caucasian Knot").

The video then continues with footage of the minister moving through the hallways and classrooms, accompanied by upbeat music, and interacting with the staff and students. These fragments are interspersed with remarks by Khozh-Baudi Daayev addressed to the teachers.

In particular, the video suggests that the minister's displeasure was caused by the school's name. "Hafiz, what does the word 'hafiz' even have to do with this educational institution? It has nothing to do with the profile, the purpose of this institution!" Daayev says. The teachers' responses are not shown in the video.

The next episode also shows the minister's question to the teachers. "Show me, today is Tuesday, they have English. Where is it?" Daayev says in the video. The teachers' response to this question is also not provided.

In another scene, Daayev holds a wireless computer monitor in each hand. "This one doesn't work, what is it?" he demands. "Our [inaudible] doesn't work," a woman off-camera replies. "Where are they?" Daayev asks. "I'll get them right now," the woman replies.

In another scene, the minister stands next to an employee of the organization. "You assured me that you have interactive equipment in every room. Show me," he demands. The woman the minister is addressing takes a step, but then the scene cuts to a halt, and in the next shot, she is back standing in the same place, and Daayev is addressing her again. "Once you've done everything, prepared everything, then we'll think about your work," he says.

At the end of the video, Daayev stands near the entrance to the school, pointing to a sign and reading it, after which he says a few phrases in Chechen. The words "name" and "hafiz" are heard in his remarks. Meanwhile, another man, holding a screwdriver, begins dismantling the school sign.

A video about Daayev's inspection was brought to the attention of a "Caucasian Knot" reader with the nickname mindy_muller today. "In the video, the Minister of Education chastises the administration and teachers, expresses dissatisfaction with the name of the institution ('Khafiz,' meaning 'reciter of the Quran'), which, in his opinion, is in no way related to the profile and purpose of this school, points out that students are required to have English, and demands that they 'show it,' and also makes other complaints," he wrote in his commentary, noting that at least two private schools have already closed this year.

As a reminder, in August, Khozh-Baudi Daayev announced that lists of underperforming students at the end of the school year would be sent to the administration of the head of state and the government of the republic. According to him, this will protect schools "from unfounded claims" from parents. Teachers pointed out that handing over the lists of underperforming students to the authorities would only create psychological problems for them. The proposed measure is not only unethical, but also contradicts the law, the lawyer noted.