The Don Bosco Technical School of Phnom Penh, or simply Don Bosco Phnom Penh, located in the capital city of the Kingdom of Cambodia, is the oldest Don Bosco school in the country. It is also regarded as the site of the first printing house of Cambodia after the war and the first technical free education institution dedicated exclusively to young people from poor communities and rural areas.

The school was opened in 1991 when Father Valter Brigolin and Brother Roberto Panetto moved from Bangkok to Phnom Penh after the Royal  Government invited the Salesian community to Cambodia to establish techical schools in the country.

This educational institution  belongs to the Don Bosco Foundation of Cambodia. During the academic year 2008 - 2009 it has enrolled 526 students in its mechanic and welding, electricity, electronic, auto mechanics and printing courses. The students here follow a two years's curriculum and the certificates  are isssued according to the standard required by the Ministry of Education therefore they have an official validity. Although the school is mainly for young men, there are 58 young girls in printing and electronics courses. There are also female and male boarding houses for students coming from far provinces. Students come especially from the central provinces of Cambodia.

The Don Bosco Technical School of Phnom Penh is located in the Phnom 
Penh Themy District, near the Pochentong International Airport. 

The 
address: Phum Chress, Kum Phnom 
Penh Thmey, Russey Keo District.

 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 . P.O. Box 47. Phone rector: 023 21 99 86. Printing department: 016 902 864.

History

In 1990 the Salesians presented a proposal to the Ministry of Education to open a Technical School in Phnom Penh. The project was welcome in a post-war period of reconstruction.

In April two officials from the Ministry of Education paid a visit to the Salesian works in Thailand and gained a favourable impression of the style of education. That visit was definitive for receiving the final approval and sympathy of the Cambodian government and they approved the Technical School project in May of that same year.

The historic arrival date for Don Bosco in Cambodia is marked as May 24, 1991 when two Salesians, Brother Roberto Panetto and Father Valter Brigolin, came to live in Phnom Penh. May 24 is also the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians, a Marian devotion so dear to Don Bosco and to the Salesians. The land for the technical school was bought in what is today the New Phnom Penh District (Phnom Penh Thmey) - at that time a rice-growing-field territory.

The government entrusted to the Salesians the orphanage of Preik Phneu, 11 kms to the north of Phnom Penh. It was a contract between Don Bosco and the Ministry of Social Affairs. The first instructors were Thai past pupils of Don Bosco Bangkok until the first Khmer instructors could take over the instruction. On January 31, 1994, His Royal Prince Norodom Ronnariddh, First Prime Minister, officially opened the Don Bosco Technical School in the New Phnom Penh District. On May 24, 1996 His Excellency, Second Minister Samdec Hun Sen presided at the ceremony of the completion of the Don Bosco Technical School-Phnom Penh. Father Juan Edmundo Vecchi, the 8 th successor of Don Bosco, came to Cambodia on October 7, 1997. His presence was a very important moment of encouragement. His message focused on building up the educative community and the Salesian Preventive System.

Organization

The school has an administration appointed by the Cambodian Salesian Council in coordination with the Salesians of Don Bosco. The first authority of the school is the rector. There is also a vice-rector (he is also known as 'vicar'). The administrator is in charge of the economy of the school and there is also a coordinator for students affairs. Every technical section has a manager and an assistance manager.

Central governance

The rector is appointed by the Salesian Congregation of Don Bosco. He is generally a Catholic priest and his mission is coordinate the daily activities of the institution and the annual academic plan. He is generally assisted by the Vicar or Vice Rector.

The economy of the school is under the administrator, appointed by the Cambodian Salesian Council. His work is keep the accounts of the institution, to review the expenses of the programs and projects and to deal with donors and other things related with the general running of the work.

There is a person in charge of the students affairs and the animation of the educational community.

The current School Council is made by the following persons:

1. Rector: Fr. Leonardo Ochoa, SDB
2. Technical Director: Fr. Roel Soto, SDB
3. Councilor: Fr Luis Oyarzo, SDB
4. Assistant: Bro Tan Tai Martin

Sections

Every section has its own administration under the supervision of the manager. The school council appoint managers and his assistance. The manager coordinates the academic curriculum, the production of the workshops and their promotion.

There are also two boarding houses for boys and girls under the supervision of some teachers. For the academic year 2008-2009 the sections had the following number of students:

1) Of these students 58 are female studying in printing and electronics.

2) Female boarders 37; male boarders 128.

First year theory subjects (first and second semester)

• Khmer language 1.
• English language 1.
• Practical mathematics 1.
• Technical draftin 1.
• Personality Development 1.
• Moral Ethics 1.
• Health and Physical Exercises 1.

Second year theory subjects (third and fourth semester)

• Khmer language 2.
• English language 2.
• Practical Mathematics 2.
• Technical Drafting 2.
• Moral Ethics 2.
• Health and Physical Exercises 2.

Assigments

1. Periodic tests and examinations.
2. Competency on assesment results.
3. Writen report from the teaching faculty.
4. Writen report and recommendation from the supervisors and managers.

Finances

As a member of the DBFC, the school of Phnom Penh is a charitable institution supported by donors, especially from Europe. The workshops have some productions to external customers, giving the opportunity to students to practice and the school to have some funds in order to support the programs.

As a free education institution for poor young people, the school has not a expensive fee. Some small ammounts are gathered to support the maintenance of uniforms and food, but very poor students can apply their situation to the person in charge of students' affairs.

With the current global financial crisis, the school has suffered some of the consecuences in the reduction of funds to support its programs for the development of poor communities in the country.

Mission statement

The objective of the Course/Program Registration of Don Bosco Technical School of Phnom penh is to ensure quality in providing technical education and training in Cambodia, to enable them to acquiere and develop skills that would help them become productive and responsible citizens of their country and to encourage a professional course of study for teaching staff who will become change agents in the educational and technical development of the technical schools in Phnom Penh and the nation.

Program goals

The first goal is to improve quality courses and programs for young people from poor communities.

The second is to upgrade the competencies of trainees and graduates.

The programs provide also long term formal relationships betweeb the school and the neighborhood to create partnership in building up better citizens of Cambodia.

Objectives of the school

The objectives of the schools are:

1. Upgrading the quality of technical education and training to young people to become skillful with the level of competency for the Cambodian market.
2. Acquaring theories and skills from behavioral, social, organization and managerial sciences, which can be used to facilitate the educational growth and skills expertise of the young.
3. Transmiting high ideals of social and cultural plurality, principles of multicultural education and skill training and leaning how to maximize all student's learning potential.
4. Discussing contemporary educational thought and practices on themes such as competency, achievement, assesment, accountability and perfomance appraisals.
5. Analyzing funding resources for students and teaching personnel, utilize the latest techniques in budget development, and evaluate the funding of education for the needy youth and personnel.

Placement and apprenticeship

The training offered by Don Bosco technical School assists the trainees/ graduates in job placements. The school has established tie-ups with some reputable companies where the students spend their supervised in-plant training (SIPT).

Evaluation and training perfomance

The trainees are evaluated every module or phase of training. A level of competence in learning theoretical and practical aspect is set for the trainees to develop better learning and work habits to achieve. Graphical representation of the cumulative competence encourages and stimulates the trainees to develop better learning and work habits.

Programs description

The Certificate in Technology with any specialization mentioned below. The education and skills training requires a 17-month and/or 22- month course/ program and has a multicultural interdisciplinary base.  It prepares students for diploma in technology Level 2. The courses offered  are as follows:

General Shop Machine

This program concentrates on the importance of the basic principles of Machine Shop Technology at work in all branches. It provides training on the operation and maintenance of lathe, milling, boring and grinding machine tools and equipments that are sufficient to enable them to join a work force. It provides a sound and thorough knowledge of machine shop practice, machine shop principles and metrology at work.

Automotive Technology

This program concentrates on the importance of the basic principles of Automobile technology at work in car and motorcycles. It provides a training on servicing, maintenance, installation and repairs on car and motorcycles engines. It also provides a sound and thorough knowledge on computerized wheel alignment and car electronics.

General Electrical Technology

This program concentrates on the importance of the basic principles of general Electrical Technology at work in all branches. It provides servicing and maintenance, installation and repairs of electrical system on motors, transformers and generators, its components and parts, refrigeration and air conditioning system that are sufficient for trainees to join a work force. It provides a sound and thorough knowledge of electricity, electrical machineries, industrial controls and circuit controls.

Fabrication and Welding

This program concentrates on the importance of the basic principles on fabrication of machine parts, electrical and gas welding technology at work in all branches. It also provides training on sheet metal works, Mig and Tig Stainless, plasma cutting, cylinder rolling, bending and cutting that are sufficient to enable the trainees to join a work force.

Basic Electronics and Computers

This program concentrates on the importance of the basic principles on Electronics technology and computers at work in all branches. It also provides training on servicing and maintenance, installations and repairs of electronics system, its components and parts, software and hardware computer installations and its maintenance, printed circuit board, design and production that are sufficient to enable the trainees to join a work force.

Printing

This program concentrates on the importance of the basic principles on pre-press, off-set and silk-screen printing, binding and finishing at work in all branches. It also provides training on computer design, color separation, agfa-image setter, film recording, folding and plastic lamination that are sufficient to enable the trainees to join a work force in Printing Press.

Admission

Admission to this program is based on the assumption that candidates will be able to complete the requirements of the program and become successful manpower after graduation. The application requirements are as follows:

1. Must be poor and/ or orphaned and lack the opportunities to continue studies.
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must show that she/he has studied at least Level 9 of the Formal Education.
3. Must come from poor and big families and/ or recommended by orphanages or other NGO’s.
4. Submit official transcripts of at least Lower Secondary Education (Level 9), Identification Card and Family Book.
5. Must pass the personal Interview.
6. Must take the Written Examination

Other requirments

Students from the province or orphanages may be admitted in the Boarding Houses Girls’ Hostel and Boys’ Boarding Section).  They must submit proper credentials.  A full-time residency or at least three semesters must be completed in the two years course. Candidates must pass a comprehensive examination at the end of appropriate courses, and then satisfactorily pass the assessment of their specialization at the culmination of the course/ program.

Students also will be required to participate in selected enrichment activities during year one of the program like sports, extra-curricular activities and seminars/ courses and farming.