Samakkhi Witthayakhom School


Samakkhi Witthayakhom School , or formerly, Samakkhi Witthayakhom Chiang Rai Provincial School, is a public high school in Chiang Rai Province, the northernmost province of Thailand.
Established by Chiang Rai Governor Phraya Si Suriyaratchawaranuwat in 1908, it is the twenty-second oldest public high school of the country, the fourth oldest of the northern Thailand and the oldest in Chiang Rai Province. The school has celebrated its centenary in 2008.
The school is a state provincial agency with juristic personality, subsidiary to the Office of Chiang Rai Educational Area 1, the Office of Basic Education Commission, the Ministry of Education, respectively.

History

The school dates to 1908. Its name was shortened to "Samakkhi Witthayakhom", meaning the "academic institute established by unanimity". At that time, the school was housed in the foothills of Wat Ngam Mueang, and only grade 4 to grade 6 was offered, extended to grade 9 in 1917.
In 1924, due to site limitations, Chiang Rai Governor Phraya Ratchadetdamrong ordered that SWK classes be consolidated to grades 4–6 and grades 7–9. The younger grades moved to Wat Ming Mueang as an interim solution. Grades 7-9 were moved to Wat Chet Yot. The governor also raised funds to establish permanent office space for school administration.
In 1927, CR educational officer Luang Kittiwat granted governmental funds to the school to cover office construction costs. Grades 4–7 were pulled out of the school to become a new school entitled "Damrong Rat Songkhro School". SWK extended its offerings to Grade 12. Owing to construction delays, SWK acting Director Khuang Sukhontharot and CR educational officer Boonsing Boonkham disbursed 350 baht to purchase a six-rai estate at Wat San Pa Daeng from the American missionary Ray W. Battelle, and further adjacent estates amounting to about one plaeng. Land and money were donated to the school by the government, public servants, and aristocrats, including, among others, physician and former Minister of Public Health, Sem Phringphuangkaeo, and 600 million baht from the Council of Ministers.
A panel was set up by CR Administration to supervise construction, with Boonsing Boonkham as chair. The panel hired a Chinese construction company. On 2 March 1937, a ceremony was held to lay the cornerstone for the permanent office. On 11 February of the following year CR Governor Phra Phanom Nakharanurak presided over the inauguration of the main building.
Upon completion of construction, the Council of SWK Government Teachers resolved in 1940 to use the school flag and anthem. The abbreviation "SWK" and the motto Balaṃ saṅghassa sāmaggī were also officially invented and declared. Following that, many buildings were installed at the school to serve public needs.
In 1993 female students were accepted by SWK for the first time. The Regional Scientific and Technological Education Centre was opened at the school. The Regional Arts Centre was also opened in 2002, followed by advent of the "English Programme" for grade 7–9, as well as Thailand's Self English Access Centre under the patronage of the World Bank, the "Buddhist School" Project, and the "Technological School" project.
Due to increases in enrolment the government announced, in 1994, the opening of a branch of SWK to be known as "Samakkhi Witthayakhom School 2".
The school celebrated its centennial in 2007. The cerebration was held under the banner, "Uniting Hearts, Uniting Wills, the Centenary of Samakkhi Witthayakhom School 2008". The highlight was the opening of the Centenary Building – established in May 2007, given the name "King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Commemorative Building" by Bhumibol Adulyadej — presided over by Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
With the goal of educating scientists for Thailand's future, the school in 2008 initiated a new class for forty students selected from grade 10 science classes by examination. These students meet twice a week in a special laboratory to receive intensive training in mathematics, physical science, chemistry, biology, and computer science.

Symbols

The school motto is: Balaṃ saṅghassa sāmaggī or "Unity is strength",
its slogan is: "The finest education, the best comportment, and the most excellent development",
and its byword: "Good examples prevailing good instructions."
The school anthem is March of Samakkhi Witthayakhom, composed by the Council of Teaching Staffs of the school in 1940 for use in cheering sport competitions. The march lyrics invite people to come join the school's sport competitions, as well as call for unity and perseverance among the competitors.
Seal: The seal of the school is composed of a strand tightly roped in the figure of the abbreviated school title in Thai, "ส.ว.ค.", as a symbol of unity. Under the strand lie the clouds representing respectfulness. Upon the strand, there is the royal insignia with glorious light, as a sign of illumination. And beneath the strand is the establishment year in Buddhist Era and the ribbon with the school motto.
Buddha statue: "Phra Phutthamani Maitri Rattana". Formerly, it was untitled but called "Phra Phuttharup Chiang Saen Sing Sam" gave it its present name to celebrate the school's centenary in 2008. The statue is bronze, dating back around 400–500 years to the Chiang Saen period. Having a size identical to a mature child sitting in a meditative posture, its length is 17 inches. Three lions mentioned in the name are the artistic features of the statue: lion-like feature, divine-like feature, and Buddha-like feature. Presently, it is installed in Building 1's auditorium as the principal Buddha statue.

Campus

The school occupies five rai, five ngan, 200 square metres, consisting of 13 academic buildings, five minor buildings, 90 classrooms, and 45 academic laboratories. Academic buildings:
The school grounds host a botanical garden in honour of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The garden contains indigenous plants. There are two canteens behind Building 9, one called the "Sinthani Canteen," the other one, "Canteen 2." Official residences are behind the canteens.
Behind the school are the Chiang Rai Vocational College and Chiang Rai Commercial College.

Education

Organisation

Grade 7

Students admitted to this grade shall have completed Prathommasueksa 6, the applicants who have passed the tests, and their guardian also, are further required to take part in interviews.

Grade 10

A student in this grade will have completed Matthayommasueksa 3 or possess another certificate proving the same level. Enrollment normally takes place every year in February to March. Placement of the students is achieved by various means as follows
1. For Class 8 to Class 15: There are tests which applicants must take. Tests are produced by the school in accordance with the standards determined by the Ministry of Education.
2. For school alumni: Applicants who are alumni of the school, i.e., have succeeded in grades 7-9 at the school, have the right to submit their grade point average to the committee installed by the school to select in accordance with the rules and procedures stipulated by the school.
3. For general students: Applicants having succeeded elsewhere are required to take tests, but science and math are not emphasized
Each year there are a large number of applicants for both grade 7 and grade 10, up to more than 10,000, but the school can accept only 600 students for each grade.

Graduation

The certificate of initial secondary education will be conferred on the graduates from grade 7 through 9, and the certificate of terminal secondary education to grades 10–12.

Awards

Notable alumni

Footnotes