Samakkhi Witthayakhom School (SWK; ) (; ; ), 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 (Suk Ditsayabut) 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 (Thai: วัดงำเมือง), 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 (Phon Sarutanon) (Thai: พระยาราชเดชดำรง (ผล ศรุตานนท์)) ordered that SWK classes be consolidated to grades 4–6 and grades 7–9. The younger grades moved to Wat Ming Mueang (Thai: วัดมิ่งเมือง) as an interim solution. Grades 7-9 were moved to Wat Chet Yot (th: วัดเจ็ดยอด). The governor also raised funds to establish permanent office space for school administration.
In 1927, CR educational officer Luang Kittiwat (Thai: หลวงกิตติวาท) 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" (Thai: โรงเรียนดำรงราษฎร์สงเคราะห์). SWK extended its offerings to Grade 12. Owing to construction delays, SWK acting Director Khuang Sukhontharot (Thai: ข่วง สุคนธรส) and CR educational officer Boonsing Boonkham (Thai: บุญสิงห์ บุญค้ำ) disbursed 350 baht to purchase a six-rai estate at Wat San Pa Daeng (Thai: วัดสันป่าแดง) from the American missionary Ray W. Battelle, and further adjacent estates amounting to about one plaeng (Thai measurement unit). 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 (Thai: เสม พริ้งพรวงแก้ว), 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 (Hokkai Phisanlabut) (Thai: พระพนมนครานุรักษ์ (ฮกไก่ พิศาลบุตร)) 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 ("unity is strength") 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 celebration was held under the banner, "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 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.