Suankularb Wittayalai School

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Suankularb Wittayalai School
File:Sklogo.png
Address

88 Tripetch Road Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok Thailand
Information
Type	Public secondary school
Motto	Suvijāno bhavaṃ hoti (He who knows well will progress.)
Established	1882
Founder	Chulalongkorn
Authority	Office of the Basic Education Commission
Director	Cherdsak Supasophon
Faculty	193
Grades	7–12 (Mathayom 1–6)
Gender	Boys' School
Enrollment	3,600 (2006 academic year)
Colour(s)	Pink-Blue
Mascot	Rose
Website	http://www.sk.ac.th/

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Suankularb Wittayalai School (also known as Suankularb College) (Template:Lang-th, lit. Rose Garden College) (13°44′34.02″N 100°29′53.37″E / 13.7427833°N 100.4981583°E / 13.7427833; 100.4981583) is an all-boys secondary school for grades 7th through 12th in Thailand. Founded by King Chulalongkorn in 1882, Suankularb is the oldest public secondary school in the country. Suankularb alumni include eight Prime Ministers of Thailand, nine Supreme Court Chief Justices, five attorney generals, Fortune Global 500 chief executive and chief financial officer, scholars, as well as a number of prominent politicians and businessmen. Suankularb is a member of Jaturamitr group of which members consist of four oldest boys' schools of Thailand.

History

"Suankularb" means "rose garden" in Thai, as the original school was located in the area of a rose garden in the Grand Palace. The school was established by King Chulalongkorn on 8 March 1882 and was originally for Royal Page Lieutenants; it has always benefited from royal patronage.

Under the patronage and guidance of King Chulalongkorn the school became popular and grew quickly, changing its focus from military training to a much more broadly-based curriculum that reflected the needs of its students. The number of students rapidly swelled to many hundreds, consequently some were relocated to other educational institutes outside the Grand Palace area (1893) such as Sunanthalai Garden and Thepsirin Temple school, and to its present site, originally donated by Wat Lieb (or Rachaburana Temple). The opening of the first building at this site (called the Memorial Suan Kularb Building, but known among students as "the long building" because for many years it was the longest building in the country) was presided over personally by His Majesty King Rama V. It was at this event that he famously announced the importance of education as a means of developing the country.

The school has two highly esteemed shrine, focal points for its considerable spirit of unity and identity. The first, called Luang Phor Suankularb, is a 9-inch-high (230 mm) metal Buddha donated by King Rama V. The second, in the shape of a many-armed elephant and with a beautiful water display, is called "Luang Phor Poo" and is located near the main entrance. It is thought to house the protective spirit of the place (known as "Grandfather"), with students making daily offerings of flower garlands as a token of respect.

Suankularb Wittayalai is a famous male-only school in Thailand with over a century-old history and tradition. Students, alumni, teachers, as well as former teachers and personnel share a proud organization culture and identity. For over a century, Suankularb's alumni have played important roles in the modern history of Thailand. During its early days, English expatriates served as the board of directors, thus making it possible for notable school leavers, such as MR Kukrit Pramoj, to continue their studies abroad at notable institutions such as Oxford University. Indeed early alumni formed a major group of Thai scholars sent to study abroad yearly under the prestigious King 's Scholarships, and later Thai Government Scholarships. Upon their returns, they worked mostly in government agencies and academic institutions and helped in modernizing the country. Their names could be read like who-is-who in Thailand history for social, politics, government, military, and academy. It is often said, and not solely in jest, that Suankularb is the school of future Thai Prime Ministers.

Notable proud achievements of Suankularb include when H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej awarded Suankularb for being the best school in the country between 1973–75. Students have also won first prize in the King's Scholarship, in the Shell Company of Thailand's English quiz, and in the Mathematics Association of Thailand's math's quiz.

In 1981 a multi-purpose building and gymnasium known as building number six was built to commemorate the school's centennial. It was opened by the present King, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on July 30, 1984. Every year on the eighth of March – the founding day of the school – all O.S.K ("Old Suankularb") students assemble in front of building six where they pay respect and express gratitude to the large statue of King Rama V which is located there. A great auditorium was built in 1995 and opened that year H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The teaching of science and technology has been a central policy of the school. The school also possesses an extensive library, some books considerably rare and valuable and donated by former PM Thanin Kraivixien.

Facts

School Address : 88 Tripetch Road, Wang Burapapirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
School Area : Approximately 4.6 Acres
School Abbreviation : S.K.
Type of School : Government Boys' Secondary School (195 teachers and 3,918 students)
School Motto : (Pali) Suvijāno bhavaṃ hoti, He who knows well will progress
School Vision : "Broaden our vision to worldwide access, Strengthen our virtue, Enliven our spirit for science and technology"

School Emblem

A book, with a ruler, pen and pencil inserted in the book. On the cover of the book, is a royal headdress (the "Pra Kiew" symbol) and H.M. King Chulalongkorn's initials. On the right side, there is a bouquet of roses. To the left of the book, a ribbon tying the bouquet of roses with the name of the school written on it. On the top, the Buddhist philosophy and moral principle in Pali and Thai which means : "He who knows well will progress"

School Colours

Pink is the colour for Tuesday, the day that H.M. King Chulalongkorn was born.
Blue is the colour for Friday, the day that Queen Siphatcharindra was born and also the birthday of the school itself.