Vajiravudh College

Vajiravudh College is a private all-boys boarding school located at 197 Rajvithi Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300 Thailand. The school was established by Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua - King Rama VI who is also known as King Vajiravudh. It was originally named the "Royal Pages College" (in Thai:Ma-had-lek-luang) then the king shifted Thai King College students to Royal Pages College and rename as Vajiravudh College. In the college, the students are accommodated in houses (Ka-na) which are generally in primary and secondly education houses. The primary students stay in 3 houses called Sanamchan, Nandhauthayan and Saranrom. The secondary students are divided into 6 houses called School House, Dusit House, Chitlada House, Phyathai House, Chongruk-Bhakdi House and Saksri-Mongkol House. Overall, the college support students to balance sports and music or arts activities with academic education. Normally boys enter the school at Prathom 4 (Grade 4) and stay on until they finish high school - Mathayom 6 (Grade 12).

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Royal Policy

The royal policy of His Majesty King Rama VI, the founder, was "What I want from the students is not to create all the students to have the same standard as a model student. What I want is to create young men who have pure heart and pure body who willing to work hard for upcoming future no matter what. I don't want young men who passed all the exams with high scores and become honor students. I don't want them to be walking textbooks. What I want is them to be young men whose personalities are honest, loyal, have pure pattern and pure mind and I won't feel any grieve if you tell me that a student can't read or write, can't calculate and has no knowledge of mathematic at all. Only if I know that he was in my school and could compare the differences between a gentlemen and a feminine. I don't want a genius complaining "Many knowledges, but can't survive"(Thai idiom). At this school I want the meaning of studying is to change young men to good citizens and won't let all the knowledges crush their personalities. And I want the education to be enjoyful for the students, so in their futures they would think back that they had fun when they were in this school. I don't want my school to be compared to other schools which have difference purposes. If I had wanted a normal school, i would have built a day school, not a boarding one."

History

The College was founded on 29 December 1910 to provide education but also as "reign monastery". Normally, the King would build a temple as his reign monastery, but because as there were already many temples the King decided to build a school instead based on the system of Public School in England.[1]

In establishing, His Majesty donated his wealth to build a temporarily wooden study building on his land at Suan Krajung near Prameprachakorn Canal at Suan Dusit district. Then moved in the Royal Pages's students which were temporarily located near Brahman ceremony hall in Royal Palace at 11 June 1911. Then later in 1915 His Majesty donated his wealth to build a permanent Royal Pages's study building, which were composed of an assembly hall and four houses at the four corners of the school. Then His Majesty set the first stone at 20 December 1915, then in 1916 Ratchavittayaluy from Ministry of Justice was moved onto his caring. His Majesty also established Chiang Mai Royal Pages College at Chiang Mai in 1917. Now the college in Chiang Mai is known as Yupparaj Royal's College.[2]

The expanding of this school was stopped by the heavenly rest of Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua King Rama VI on 25 November 1925. In the next reign Siam (the name of Thailand at that time) was having economic problems, caused Phra Pokklao Chaoyuhua Rama VII to cut His Majesty's expenses. To keep the country's money in balance, His Majesty decided to close Royal Pages College and King's College (in Thai Ra-ja-vi-ta-ya-lai) and merge them all together with Royal Pages College in Bangkok in 1926. Then His Majesty gave the school a new name, Vajiravudh College, in the honor of Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua King Rama VI or King Vajiravudh.[3]

Admissions

Vajiravudh College is a Leading Boarding School that would provide general education from primary to secondary level, including moral training in the style of British public schools. A board of directors was founded to manage the school, and this tradition continues to the present day.

The all-boys boarding is also exclusive for boys. Here, the school introduces more discipline something like military boarding style so that they can really change themselves to become responsible citizens in the future. The school provides students with high standards of academic instruction, opportunities for service to others, and a well-rounded program of activities directed toward the development of their skills, talents, and self-confidence for lifelong learning. Its facilities provide students with ample scope for supervised leisure and sport as well as studies. The school prepares students to become leaders in meeting the ever-changing needs of the world and equips them with the knowledge to face challenges in a cross-cultural environment.

Boarding Life

Boarding Houses

Students normally stay in school for 12 days and back to parent for 2 days .There are 9 boarding houses in the school (Ka-na) and separated into senior and junior zone. There are 6 Senior houses that each house are accommodated about 80 students and equally divided for each grade from year 7 to year 12 and 3 Junior houses that are accommodated around 40 students from year 4 to year 6. Most of them were named after the royal palaces in Thailand, where King Rama VI used to stay in. Every boarding house has its own house color as a symbol.

Senior Houses: The regularity in senior houses mainly are arranged by prefects that given authorities by the Headmaster and Head of house. The system is described as "good leadership come from good flower experiences".

Junior Houses: The regularity in junior houses are different from senior houses that authorities are given to head of house and teachers.

Time Schedule 6.00 am Wake up and preparation for class 7.00 – 7.50 am Study first period 8.00 am Breakfast 8.30 am Assemble and pray 9.00 am Study from second period to sixth period 13.30 am Lunch 14.00-15.00 am Music or arts activities 16.00-17.30 am Sports 17.30 am Preparation for dinner 18.15 am Dinner 19.00 - 20.45 am PREP : Study and do homework 20.45-21.00 am Preparation for bedtime 21.00 am pray 21.30 am Bedtime for junior students 22.00 am Bedtime for senior students

Sports

All Vajiravudh students are required to do some kinds of sports every day from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. according to the schedule. In each semester there are competitionts between houses.

First semester, Rainy season (Visakha), there are badminton and rugby competitions.

Second semester, Winter Season (Pavarana), there are basketball, football and swimming competitions.

Third semester, Summer season (Makha), there are tennis, athletics, fives and squash competitions.

The school's main sport is rugby, which it is dominant in Thai's under-15, under-17 and under-19 rugby tournaments for years. The reason that rugby becomes school's main sport is that Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua King Rama VI thought that rugby would teach men sportsmanship, would teach them how to be a gentlemen as rugby is described from the English as "Sport played in heaven". A traditional friendly fixture against Malay College Kuala Kangsar of Malaysia is held annually since 1960.

School traditions

Uniform

Each time school hosts a traditional ceremony or going to a ceremony all students will have to dress the uniform given by King Vajiravudh. The purpose of King Vajiravudh for having the uniform is the students to dress

1. White overcoat suit with covers for two upper pockets and two lower pockets on each sides. With five of silver Phra Mongut buttons.

2. Dark blue velvet shirt collar with a one centimetre wide silver stripe.

3. Dark blue shorts cover half of the knees.

4. Dark blue triangle cap with two silver buttons.

5. Long black socks reach the knees, with black leather shoes.

Songs

Each of the school's songs would be sung in important ceremony.

Maha Vajiravudh Rajsadudee "Praise the Great Vajiravudh" written by Madam Dusadee Malakul na Ayuthaya, rhythm Chaloke Netre-suit. This song would be sung for praising the greatness of King Vajiravudh the school's founder.

Rao dek nai luang "We Royal Page" is a song written by King Vajiravudh. The words are to remind students the important of being royal page students. The song is sung in old Thai style melody, and played by Thai traditional musical instruments.

Eek see sip pe "Forty Years On" is the song adapted from the song Forty Years On of Harrow School. Changing its words to fit into the school by Madam Dusadee Malakul na Ayuthaya. The song is to remind the old boys and the current students about the life in school days.

Graduates Song Goodbye is an English song words and melody by F.Rico. The song is sung by the graduating students, the song is to think about the student's future life after graduated.

Jan ya nak kee la "Sportsmanship" is the song sung before each of the competitions between houses. The song is to remind the students of the sportsmanship. The rhythm of the song is in old Thai rhythm.

Buildings

Buildings in the school are mainly Thai style constructed e.g. Assembly hall, Clock Tower, Vajiramongkud (also called white building) and the houses. Phachatipok building is sciences and mathematics education building. Bejaratana building was the science center but now it use for language classes. Kongbangkabkarn building is for computer science and foreign languages center. Vajiramongkud is for Thai language and social science. Vejsukamsatid building is for arts. Suwattana is for music center and mathematic classes. Humanity and information resource center is for Recreation. There are new gymnasium and music building.

School's Headmasters

Headmaster is given the authority in the name of King to manage and lead the school accordingly to the royal policy.

Global Collaboration

Vajiravudh College has established the Global Collaboration and International Programs with over 20 schools from countries, including United States, England, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, India, and Singapore.

The variety international programs was developed, including an international school cooperation and academic exchange, foreign teacher employment, school joint cooperation, teaching staff going abroad and other international cooperation matters.

Collaboration with other international schools benefits by increasing the opportunities available to students and teachers, as well as building strong foundations for dealing with academic collaboration and cultural exchange program.

Benefits of International Programs

International Programs offer broad based benefits and outcomes for students and teachers keen to embark on this international adventure. They visit schools in foreign countries to study abroad and develop their academic skills, grow personally, and gain cultural understanding. Whether they choose to visit and study abroad for one year, one semester or one week, those who participate in study abroad programs consistently report strong advantages and benefits.

Academic Development

Personal Growth

Increased Cultural Awareness

100th year anniversary

Massage from the head master, Dr. Saroj Leesavan, "the 100th year anniversary of foundation of the school is held from 29 December 2010. Since the school was named as ‘Royal Pages College’ that was the beginning of the Royal policy and the modern education system from the King Rama VI that will lead the country to better development. The education create a ‘young gentlemen who will be physically and morally clean’ who will help country and society. After 100 of years, the direction from the King still stay in the student’s heart and many graduated students are admitted and respected to work in important roll especially working in the name of the King Rama IX which maintain the purpose of the school."[4]

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References

  1. ↑ "เกี่ยวกับ ร.ร.". Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "เกี่ยวกับ ร.ร.". Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "เกี่ยวกับ ร.ร.". Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  4. ↑ Leesavan, Saroj. "สารจากผู้บังคับการวชิราวุธวิทยาลัย". Retrieved 29 April 2013.

Coordinates: 13°46′34″N 100°31′02″E / 13.77611°N 100.51722°E / 13.77611; 100.51722

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