Melnichenko ordered to expand the scope of social and psychological testing of schoolchildren in the Penza region

Penza Region Governor Oleg Melnichenko ordered to make social and psychological testing of schoolchildren more widespread. He emphasized that currently only about 50% of students are covered. The issue of preventing juvenile delinquency was discussed at a meeting of the regional government.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Yagov reported that testing, which was one of the first in the country to be conducted in the Penza region, revealed that about 90% of schoolchildren have a low probability of risky behavior, 8% have a high probability, and less than 2% have the highest probability.

“These are the children you need to know and work with,” he noted.

However, younger students do not undergo such testing.

Oleg Melnichenko emphasized the need to analyze the situation in municipalities and schools, and to conduct explanatory work with parents.

"I am sure that no normal father or mother will refuse to identify possible deviations in a child's behavior that need to be corrected at an early stage. Involve child psychologists - perhaps it is necessary to adapt the test material, make it in a game form. I give you a month for this work," the governor concluded.

The head of the region also noted that providing employment and organizing leisure activities for teenagers are the best forms of crime prevention. In the region, 137,829 students are covered by organized forms of leisure, including children on preventive registration (624 people in total). The most popular public associations among young residents of the region are "Movement of the First", "Big Change", "Russian Student Teams", "Yunarmiya", and the "Tiger" police assistance squad.

Raids are conducted in places where young people gather, in retail outlets selling alcohol, and in dysfunctional families. Oleg Yagov reported that raids are also conducted in student dormitories to assess living conditions and leisure activities. A total of 1,855 raids were conducted.

Oleg Melnichenko emphasized that the purpose of the raids is not intimidation, but educational impact. Monitoring of the use of sports halls and sports centers in educational institutions is also underway.