700 children skip school to harvest cotton in southern Kazakhstan, principals fined 02 декабря 2013, 18:38

Cotton. Photo ©REUTERS

700 school children were found skipping their classes because they were harvesting cotton in South Kazakhstan Oblast, Tengrinews reports referring to the press-service of the regional Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office found out that students from 11 schools in Maktaaral region were working in cotton fields during school hours. The students were allowed to skip school by their school principals who thought that cotton-harvesting period was a good enough excuse. After the inspection, the Prosecutor’s Office filed two reports with the Akim (Mayor) of the region and the Head of the Regional Education Department. 7 principals, 61 vice-principals and homeroom teachers whose students were working at cotton plantations were subject to disciplinary actions. This year South Kazakhstan Oblast had a bumper harvest of cotton. Maktaaral region is the area where 80% of all the cotton in Kazakhstan is harvested. The yield amounted to 2.88 tons per hectare thus becoming the highest yield in the decade.

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