Samakkhi Witthayakhom School

History

The origin of Samakkhi Witthayakhom School could be reckoned from the initiation of "Samakkhi Witthayakhom Chiang Rai’s Provincial School" (Thai: โรงเรียนประจำจังหวัดเชียงรายสามัคคีวิทยาคม) in 1908 by Chiang Rai (CR) Governor Phraya Si Suriyaratchawaranuwat (Suk Ditsayabut) (Thai: ศรีสุริยราชวรานุวัตร (ศุข ดิษยบุตร)) by and with the advice and consensus of all the local public servants. The name of which was later minified to "Samakkhi Witthayakhom", meaning the "Academic Institute Established by the Unanimous Unity". At that time, the school affairs took place at the foothills of Wat Ngam Mueang (Thai: วัดงำเมือง), and only Grade 4 to Grade 6 was provided; however, it was extended to Grade 9 in 1917.

In 1924, owing to the limitation of the location, CR Governor Phraya Ratchadetdamrong (Phon Sarutanon) (Thai: พระยาราชเดชดำรง (ผล ศรุตานนท์)) ordered the classes of SWK be dichotomised to Grade 4–6 and Grade 7–9. The aforesaid was ordered to move to use Wat Ming Mueang (Thai: วัดมิ่งเมือง) as an interim place of education, the latter, to Wat Chet Yot (th: วัดเจ็ดยอด). The Governor also gathered the public contributions and donations for uses in establishing the new permanent office of the school. During which the school was compelled to use many places as interim office, including inter alia: CR Provincial Military Headquarters was dissolved at the end of 1925.

In 1927, CR educational officer Luang Kittiwat (Thai: หลวงกิตติวาท) granted Government budget to the School to cover the permanent office establishment costs; and Grade 4–7 was pulled out of the school to become a new school entitled "Damrong Rat Songkhro School" (Thai: โรงเรียนดำรงราษฎร์สงเคราะห์); however SWK prolongated its education to Grade 12, being Grades 6–12.

Owing to the delay of establishment, SWK acting Director Khuang Sukhontharot (Thai: ข่วง สุคนธรส) and CR educational officer Boonsing Boonkham (Thai: บุญสิงห์ บุญค้ำ) decided to disburse three hundred and fifty Baht to purchase the six-rai estates at Wat San Pa Daeng (Thai: วัดสันป่าแดง) from the American Missionary headed by Ray W. Battelle, and further adjacent estates enumerating about one plaeng (Thai measurement unit). Great amounts of estates and money were also donated to the school by the government, public servants and aristocrats, including inter alia: renowned physician and former Minister of Public Health Sem Phringphuangkaeo (Thai: เสม พริ้งพรวงแก้ว) and six hundred million Baht from the Council of Ministers.

A panel was set up by CR Administration to supervise the establishment, with Boonsing Boonkham as chair. The panel signed a contract hiring the bid-winning company of a Chinese Huiyuan Hangtrakun (Thai: ฮุยหยวน ฮังตระกูล) to carry out the establishment. On 2 March 1937, the ceremony was held to lay the cornerstone to the heart of the estates where the permanent office. And on 11 February of the following year CR Governor Phra Phanom Nakharanurak (Hokkai Phisanlabut) (Thai: พระพนมนครานุรักษ์ (ฮกไก่ พิศาลบุตร)) presided over the inauguration of the chief building.

Upon completion of the establishment, the Council of SWK Government Teachers resolved in 1940 to use the school flag and anthem (see "Symbols" below). The abbreviation "SWK" and the motto Balaṃ saṅghassa sāmaggī ("unity institutes the power") were also officially invented and declared. Following that, many buildings and places have been installed within the school so as to serve the public needs.

For decades the school has provided the public education prescribed in the law on national education and served various public wills. As an outgrowth of such performances, the school has been awarded many times, those have been conferred to the school are included inter alia: 1990 Royal Best Secondary School Award, granted by Bhumibol Adulyadej's daughter Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at Dusitalaya Hall, Chitralada Palace, Bangkok, 20 May 1991, for extensively pursuing the public advancement; the "Best Classroom Advancement School" Reward granted by CR Educational Office in 1996; the "Best School for Educational Reform" Reward from CR Governor in 2001; the "Best Curricular Arrangement School" Award from the Government in 2002; the "Best Buddhist Development and Support School" Award from the Office of National Buddhism in 2004; the "Example School for Democratic Development" Award from Privy Councillor Prof Kasem Watthanachai in 2005.

In 1993 female students were accepted to SWK for the first time after the sixty years of accepting only male students, and the Regional Scientific and Technological Education Centre was declared open at the school. The Regional Arts Centre was also opened in 2002, followed by opening of the "English Programme" for Grade 7–9 students in the same year, as well as Thailand’s Self English Access Centre under patronage of the World Bank, the "Buddhist School" Project and the "Technological School" Project in the next year, respectively.

Mindful on the rapid student increment and public need of education, the Government announced, in 1994, open a branch of SWK, entitled "Samakkhi Witthayakhom School 2".

The School celebrated its centennial in 2007. The manifold cerebration, ceremonies and activities were held under the name "Uniting Hearts, Uniting Wills, the Centenary of Samakkhi Witthayakhom School 2008" (Thai: ร้อยใจ ร้อยไมตรี ๑๐๐ ปี สามัคคีวิทยาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๑, RTGS: Roi chai roi maitri nueng roi pi samakkhi witthayakhom phoso song phan ha roi ha sip et). The highlight of which included 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.

Containing intention to prepare the efficacious scientists for the future Thai society, the School in 2008 set a new class for forty students selected from scientific classes of Grade 10 through extra examination. At 15.00–16.00 hours every Tuesday and Friday, these students meet in a special laboratory to receive an intensive training in mathematics, physical science, chemistry, biology and computers.

Notable alumni

Symbols

School precincts

Samakkhi Witthayakhom School located in the urban of Changwat Chiang Rai with various man-desire healing places encircled, namely, supermarkets, department stores, student dormitories, hotels as well as Buddhist temples and temples of other religions.

Particularly, the School's area holds 5 rai, 5 ngan, 200 square metres, consisting of 13 academic buildings, 5 minor buildings, 90 classrooms and 45 academic laboratories. Academic buildings are as follows:

Within the School, there thoroughly exists the bonatical garden in honour of Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Princess of Thailand. The garden chiefly contains local plants, flowering plants and fragrant plants. Moreover, there are two canteens behind Building 9, the one called "Sinthani Canteen," the other one, "Canteen 2." The official residences are located at the back of the said canteens.

Next behind the School, are Chiang Rai Vocational College and Chiang Rai Commercial College.

Education Arrangement

Grade 7

A person admitted to education in this grade shall contain Prathommasueksa 6 (th: ประถมศึกษาปีที่ 6; primarily education, or Grade 6) certificate or other certificate having the same level. Upon completion of the enrollment normally taken place from every year's February to March, selection of the applicants will be practiced through two means as follows:

1. Lot drawing The applicants having census in Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai enjoy right to draw a lot whether they are admitted or not, each applicant has right to draw only one lot. In each academic year the School will determine the number of admitted lots. And the lot drawing is normally held at the commencement of April.

2. Educational tests The applicants—other than the persons having already passed the lot drawing—including the persons whom failed the lot drawing are required to engage in the educational tests in the subjects and at the time and place determined by the School. The testing instruments are arranged and produced by the School in accordance with the standards determined by the Ministry of Education. For the exceptional classes (Class 9 to Class 12), the applicants whom passed the aforesaid tests, and their guardian also, are further required to take part in the interviewing tests.

Grade 10

A person having admission to the education in this grade shall contain Matthayommasueksa 3 (th: มัธยมศึกษาปีที่ 3; initial secondary education, or Grade 9) certificate or other certificate having the same level. Upon completion of the enrollment normally taken place from every year's February to March, selection of the applicants will be practiced through various means as follows

1. For Class 8 to Class 15 (See "Education Arrangement" above) There will be the educational tests which the applicants for such Class are required to engage in. Testing instruments are arranged and produced by the School in accordance with the standards determined by the Ministry of Education. And upon announcement of the name of whom having passed the tests and after such persons have reported themselves to the School, they will completely be the School's students.

2. For School's alumni The applicants whom are alumni of the School, id est, having succeeded the education in Grade 7-Grade 9 from the School, have right to submit their grade point average to the Committee(s) installed by the School to select in accordance with the rules and procedures stipulated by the School. After having reported themselves to the School, the applicants whom passed the selection of the Committee(s) will completely be the School's students.

3. For general students The applicants having succeeded education from wherever are required to take part in the educational tests identical to 1., but the scientific and mathematic side is not underlined as much as the applicants for such Class. Another methods are on the par with the others.

In each year there exists tremendous number of the applicants for both Grade 7 and Grade 10, up to more than ten thousand, but the School can accept only six hundred students for each Grade.

Graduation

The certificate of initial secondary education will be conferred to the graduates from Grade 7 to Grade 9, and the certificate of terminal secondary education, Grade 10 to Grade 12.

19th Director Transferring Controversy

Office of Chiang Rai Educational Area 1 (OEA-CR1) Director Suthat Phatthayakon on 22 December 2006 issued an order transferring local school directors according to the resolution of the Subcommittee of Chiang Rai Educational Area 1 's Government Teachers and Educational Personnel. According to the order, SWK Director Kittichot Hoiyiphu was substituted for Chiang Rai Chulabhorn Royal College (CRC-CR); CRC-CR Director Thawisak Phiphatthanasak, Damrong Rat Songkhro School (DR School); and DR School Director Pricha Phuanukunnon, SWK.

Kittichot, who was displeased with the order, stated to the media that he declined to comply with it and would file a lawsuit against it, citing that it was unjust and in breach of laws according to this understanding. He had then lodged the Administrative Court and the Office of the Basice Education Commission (Obec) against many local public servants, which caused the local administration to be at a standstill.

In order to extinguish the problem, Chiang Rai Governor Amonphan Nimmanan ordered supspending the transferring and requested the Obec for advices. Obec Secetrary General Khunying Kasama Voravan Na Aydhaya replied that the OEA-CR1 order was fair and lawful, resulting it to continue into force.

The OEA-CR1 Director later revealed that the controversial order was issued after he had discovered several corruption cases within the large schools under this supervision and the inquisitorial panel he appointed had found that the cases are prima facie. He also accentuated that he would give disciplinary punishments to whom contravening the said order.

Thailand's News Agency reported that it was Kittichot's misunderstanding of laws.

2007 Bomb Threat

As an impact of the New Year bombings in Bangkok, Chiang Rai Provincial Police Headquarters's Crime Suppressing Inspector Pol Maj Surachat Buncharoen on 13 January 2007 led his forces to inspect Samakkhi Witthayakhom School after having been informed by the School Director Pricha Phuanukunnon that an anonymous phone call was made to it warning students and teaching staff of the explosive devices and telling them to leave the area within twenty minutes, but nothing was demanded. Luckily, it was the time the daily courses were just finished, the Director therefor ordered the students to come back home and convoke all the School personnel instantaneously.

Following the inspection, the police found nothing mistrustful and suggested that it was just a person wanting to see or cause insurgency. However, the forces have stationed on the School for many days.

2008 Fire Hazard

On 9 September 2008, 14.45 hours, Chiang Rai Provincial Police Headquarters's Inspector Pol Lt Col Songkran Sanwong led his force, accompanied by Chiang Rai City's firefighters, to abate the fire flaming over the wooden Arts Store of Samakkhi Witthayakhom School. The success of performance took more than thirty minutes and was steered by Mr Somphong Kunlawong, Lord Mayor of Chiang Rai City in the capacity of the Director of the Local Public Danger Prevention and Mitigation. The fire also expanded to the adjoining Teacher Village and burnt at least one teacher dwelling. The fundamental ground of this fire hazard was due to a short circuit. The damages initially costed more than five hundred thousand Baht. The students were reportedly in turmoil while leaping away from the fire.