52 out of 52
‘I want to keep going to school. And later study at a university abroad. I hope my dream comes true.’
These are the words of 16-year-old Panha Tol, shortly after her Grade 9 final exam. Panha wants to become a doctor. She is the first in her family who can read and write properly.
Until now, Panha’s world ended at the villages around our campus. Her dreams reach much further. We filmed this moment. Since then, Panha’s wish has travelled the world. The video has been viewed more than 850,000 times on Facebook. In living rooms, on phone screens, in the lives of strangers.
The first big exam
Panha is one of 52 pupils. Together, they are the first year group from our school to sit the national Grade 9 leaving exam. All 52 passed. A pass rate of 100 per cent.
In many rural parts of Cambodia, a child’s background decides their future. Our pupils are writing a different story. One exam at a time.
This success is theirs. They earned it through countless hours of study, with curiosity, hard work and the determination to fight for their future. Anyone who has accompanied them over the years is moved to see it: children have become young adults.
A celebration at the ‘Gong’
The celebration took place at the ‘Gong’ cultural centre. The entire Upper School came together to honour the pupils of Grades 7 and 9. Awards went to top results in the Cambridge exams and in the Cambodian national curriculum. And just as much to the hard work of all those who stuck with it all year and grew along the way.
On stage, pupils shared how they had prepared and encouraged the younger ones. Two representatives of the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Department of Education attended as guests. The pride in the room was palpable.
For the Class of ’26, the journey continues.