KEP, Cambodia — Don Bosco Technical School Kep is preparing to welcome around 300 new students for the 2026–2027 academic year, continuing its mission of providing technical education and new opportunities to young people, particularly those from rural and Indigenous communities.
The successful enrolment campaign, covering programmes in Electrical Technology, Secretarial Studies, Information Technology and Media Communication, has been welcomed by Cambodian leaders as an example of the contribution technical education can make to the country’s young people and communities.
In a recent Facebook message, H.E. Say Samal, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, praised the role of Don Bosco Technical School in providing young people with practical knowledge and skills that can help them find employment and improve the lives of their families and communities.
“The Don Bosco Technical School in Kep Province has provided opportunities for young people from various provinces to build knowledge and skills, enabling them to secure employment and earn an income to improve their own lives, as well as those of their families, their communities, and the nation as a whole.”
His message came after Don Bosco Kep announced the successful enrolment of the new students.
H.E. Say Samal is also familiar with the work of Don Bosco Kep. During a visit to the school on 11 January 2026, he praised the institution as a model for Cambodia, highlighting both its attention to environmental care and its commitment to preparing young people through technical education.
For Don Bosco Kep, the recognition is particularly significant because the school’s work is rooted not only in professional training but also in accompanying young people who may have limited access to educational opportunities.
Education as an opportunity
The arrival of 300 new students represents more than an increase in enrolment. For many young people and their families, entering a technical school can be an important step towards employment, greater economic independence and a more secure future.
Many students come from provinces outside Kep and from rural communities. Through technical and professional training, they are given the opportunity to develop skills that can be used in Cambodia’s growing economy.
The school also continues to support the Brother Sun Scholarship Programme, which seeks to open educational opportunities for rural and Indigenous children and young people.
For Don Bosco Kep Director Fr. Samnang Albeiro Rodas, SDB, the purpose of this work is closely connected to the Salesian educational tradition founded by St John Bosco: to accompany young people, especially those who face greater disadvantages, and to help them build a future with dignity. “Some see us unconventional, but we are just following the great charism of Don Bosco, open to the youth of our time and country,” said the South American Salesian priest.
Responding to H.E. Say Samal’s message, Fr. Samnang expressed gratitude for the support received from the Cambodian authorities and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to young people.
“We are a project to open a space for our youth, to have a bright future for their families, communities and our nation.”
He added that Don Bosco Kep seeks to follow the spirit of Don Bosco by placing young people at the centre of its mission and working towards what he described as a “Civilization of Love.”
A shared commitment to Cambodia’s youth
The Salesian mission at Don Bosco Kep has developed alongside Cambodia’s efforts to expand opportunities for young people through education and skills development.
The school sees technical education not simply as preparation for a job, but as a means of helping young people become confident, responsible members of their families and communities.
This approach is particularly important for students from rural areas and Indigenous communities, where access to quality technical and professional education can sometimes be more limited.
The support and recognition of Cambodian leaders, therefore, is seen by Don Bosco Kep as an encouragement to continue investing in young people.
“We are grateful for the support of the Cambodian Government and for the recognition of the importance of technical education,” said Fr. Samnang.
“Our commitment is to continue working for the young people of Cambodia, especially those who come from rural and Indigenous communities, so that they may have the opportunity to build a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.”
An invitation to welcome a new generation
As Don Bosco Kep prepares for the beginning of the 2026–2027 academic year, the school would be honoured to welcome Samdech Thipadei H.E. Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Lok Chumteav Pich Chanmony, First Lady of Cambodia, to join the school community in welcoming the 300 new students.
Such a visit would be an opportunity to celebrate not only the students beginning their technical education, but also the shared commitment to Cambodia’s younger generation.
For the students and their families, the beginning of a new academic year is a moment of hope. For Don Bosco Kep, it is also a renewed commitment: to accompany young people with education, skills, care and opportunities, so that they can contribute to the future of their families, their communities and Cambodia.
The 300 students arriving in 2026 are not simply a number in an enrolment report. They represent 300 young people with hopes, abilities and futures to build.
And, for Don Bosco Kep, that is at the heart of the mission.
Don Bosco Kep: Learning, growing and moving forward together.
Link to the post of Deputy Primer Minister Say Samal in his official FB page:
