JISPP Launches Construction of Groundbreaking Dual IB and Japanese Campus in Phnom Penh

The Japanese International School of Phnom Penh (JISPP) held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 22 for a new campus in Khan Mean Chey. Billed as the first of its kind anywhere in the world, the site will house an International Baccalaureate (IB) school running from kindergarten through middle school on the same grounds as a school accredited by the Japanese government.

The event was led by H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport. Also in attendance were Mr. Misumi Takahito, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Japan, along with representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japanese community in Cambodia.

Set to open in August 2027, the JISPP Mean Chey Campus sits roughly one kilometre south of AEON Mall Mean Chey. It will grow JISPP's existing early childhood offering all the way through middle school and will also become the new base for the Japanese School of Phnom Penh (JSPP), which is accredited by Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT).

The ceremony followed by two weeks a visit to Cambodia by Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Mr. Yohei Matsumoto, who agreed with H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron to strengthen educational ties between the two nations.

A World-First Dual-Campus Concept

The Mean Chey Campus will be the first place globally to combine a Japanese government-accredited school and an IB school covering the entire kindergarten-to-middle-school range on one shared site. Although some accredited Japanese schools overseas share buildings with international schools, this project is unique in allowing students of the same ages from both institutions to grow up together within a single community across their full school journey.

The vision uniting the two schools is captured in the phrase "Two Schools, One Future." Each school will keep its own curriculum — Japanese pupils will follow the program set by Japan's education ministry, while JISPP students will experience a blend of Japanese teaching approaches and the IB framework. Even so, the design deliberately weaves in shared extracurricular activities, campus-wide events and everyday interaction between the two student bodies.

The campus has been planned around the daily needs of young children, featuring generous play areas, a football field, a swimming pool, sports facilities and a canteen. Its architecture draws heavily on natural light and natural materials, echoing Japanese principles of school design.

Blending Japanese Education With IB Inquiry

JISPP first opened in 2024 as a nursery and kindergarten, welcoming children from Cambodia, Japan and elsewhere. It is currently an IB candidate school working toward authorisation for the Primary Years Programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron praised Japan's education system for going beyond academics to build discipline, responsibility, teamwork, respect for others and a sense of community. He also underlined the value of the IB approach in prompting students to think for themselves, ask questions and pursue solutions — abilities he described as vital in the 21st century.

He added that uniting two schools with distinct strengths on one campus would give Cambodian and Japanese children a valuable chance to learn side by side, understand one another's cultures and form friendships early in life. Such bonds, he suggested, could help further strengthen the relationship between Cambodia and Japan in years to come.

At JISPP, Japanese education and inquiry-based IB learning meet through a student-centred model. Children are encouraged to pursue their curiosity, make their own choices and experiment freely, developing not just academic ability but also non-cognitive traits such as independence, confidence, resilience, creativity and cooperation.

Japanese schooling also places emphasis on learning through daily routines. Children clean their own classrooms, serve lunch to their classmates, look after their belongings and take part in school activities — habits that foster responsibility, self-reliance and thoughtfulness toward others.

Learning reaches beyond the walls of the classroom too. JISPP values outdoor play, where children engage with nature, explore and take on challenges suited to their age. By using their heads, hearts and hands, they learn to solve problems, grow from their mistakes and discover their own capabilities.

Complementing Japan's strengths in mathematics and science, the IB method encourages children to question, investigate and reach their own conclusions. Together, the two approaches aim to raise children who can think independently, act on their own initiative, collaborate with others and meet new challenges with confidence.

"I sincerely hope that this new campus will become a place that brings together Japanese and Cambodian children and that the children who learn here will grow up to act as bridges of friendship between our two countries in the future," said Mr. Misumi Takahito of the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia.

The Story of the Japanese School of Phnom Penh

The Japanese School of Phnom Penh opened its doors on May 31, 2015, with an initial enrolment of 27 students. It was created through the combined efforts of the Embassy of Japan, the Japanese Association of Cambodia, the Japanese Business Association in Cambodia and the broader Japanese community.

H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron was present at the school's 2015 opening and returned this week to preside over the groundbreaking of its future home.

"It is truly meaningful that the Japanese School of Phnom Penh will share a new campus with JISPP. Having children from both schools learn together and interact with one another will create tremendous educational value," said Koji Tezuka, President of the Japanese Association of Cambodia, which oversees JSPP.

A Book Donation to the Ministry

As part of the ceremony, JISPP and Sunrise Japan Hospital Phnom Penh donated 50 copies of a newly released Khmer-language book on early childhood education to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Written by Mr. Watanabe together with the hospital, the book gives parents practical advice rooted in the Japanese approach to child development, and its cover carries a message from H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron.

From EdTech Beginnings to a Next-Generation Campus

JISPP's founding partner, Wonderfy Inc., has worked in Cambodian education since 2018, when it launched a JICA partnership to strengthen mathematics and science teaching through its thinking-skills app, Think!Think!.

"Our journey in Cambodia began with a JICA project in 2018. Today we break ground on a campus that will carry these children from kindergarten through middle school. As a bridge between Japan and Cambodia, we will pursue the very best education here," said Kei Kawashima, CEO of Wonderfy Inc.

About JISPP

The Japanese International School of Phnom Penh (JISPP) is a nursery and kindergarten in Phnom Penh that offers Japanese early childhood education to children of every nationality. As an IB candidate school, it works in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Opening in August 2027, the JISPP Mean Chey Campus will extend the school through primary and middle school.