Historic Milestone for Don Bosco VTC Palabek: 173 Graduate with National Certification Amidst Refugee Camp Challenges

PALABEK, UGANDA — April 10, 2026 — On Thursday morning, the Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Palabek held its 8th graduation ceremony, sending 173 newly certified professionals into the workforce. Addressed to the Class of 2025, School Principal Brother Hubert Twagirayezu described the year as a historic “year of maturity” where the institution proved its ability to deliver the highest national standards despite being located in a refugee camp. The ceremony brought together a wide array of attendees, including the graduating young men and women, their families who traveled from afar, dedicated teachers, and faithful partners such as the Salesians of Don Bosco, UNHCR, the Office of the Prime Minister, and Junior Achievement Uganda.

The crowning academic achievement of the year was the center’s inaugural participation in the national examination organized by the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB). The results were staggering, with 100% of the 173 candidates passing their practical assessments across nine different trades. Nearly half of these candidates achieved the highest available grade, an A+ Distinction, producing work of outstanding quality. The Class of 2025 also made significant strides in gender equality, as 68 of the graduating cohort were women, representing 38.7% of the total. Many of these women successfully broke into traditionally male-dominated trades; female students achieved a 100% pass rate in Solar Technology, while other pioneering women successfully validated their practical skills in Welding and passed with distinction in Domestic Electricity.

The students’ impact extended far beyond the walls of the workshops. In a massive community-driven initiative, students, alumni, and teachers successfully installed 547 solar streetlights across the Palabek camp. Brother Twagirayezu declared during his speech that this project was not merely a technical exercise, but a manifesto. He stated, “It is Don Bosco VTC Palabek declaring to the world: our young people do not only receive training — they give it back to their community”.

Despite the triumphant celebrations, the Principal was transparent about the severe hardships the learners faced. The year began with 202 enrollees, comprising a mix of Ugandan citizens and South Sudanese refugees. While Ugandan students maintained a 97.9% retention rate, the retention rate for refugee learners fell to 57.4%. Brother Twagirayezu attributed this heartbreaking drop-out rate directly to severe reductions in WFP and UNHCR food rations, which forced many to leave and work to feed their families. He noted that this placed hundreds of families before an inhumane choice, and issued a strong call to international partners to maintain support for vulnerable populations. To support those who remained, the center made student meals a non-negotiable priority and recruited a caregiver and nanny so that young mothers would not have to abandon their education.

The center also identified a stark contrast between practical mastery and theoretical testing. While 100% of welding students passed their practical exams, only 20% passed the written theory. Brother Twagirayezu identified this 80-point difference as a “technical literacy gap”—a challenge of academic language and format, not of intelligence. To combat this, the administration pledged to immediately integrate 15 minutes of dedicated theory terminology into all future practical sessions and to launch intensive mock examinations in the UVTAB format.

The holistic Salesian approach of Don Bosco VTC—which champions sports, music therapy, and community—has clearly paid off, evidenced by the women’s volleyball team winning a regional tournament this past year. As the center looks toward 2026 as a year of “consolidation,” Brother Twagirayezu left the Class of 2025 with a powerful parting message, comparing them to the 547 streetlights they built for their community. “We push back the darkness of unemployment, of ignorance, of despair — one learner at a time,” he concluded. Urging the 173 new graduates to carry and share their light, he told them to never let it go out.

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