Debsirin School (, ) is a
boys' secondary school in
Thailand
Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
. Founded by King
Chulalongkorn
Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...
in 1885, its alumni include King
Ananda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol (20 September 19259 June 1946) was the eighth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam (later Thailand) from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VIII. At the time he was recognised as king by the National Assembly of Thailand, National ...
, Malaysia's founding father
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman (8 February 19036 December 1990), commonly referred to as Tunku, was a Malaysian statesman who served as prime minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970. He previously served as the only chief minister of Federation of Malaya ...
, more than 70 cabinet members, including five prime ministers, and numerous military leaders and dignitaries. Debsirin School participates in
Jaturamitr Samakkee, a biennial traditional football competition between the four oldest boys' schools in Thailand.
History
The fifth Abbot of Wat Thep Sirin Thrawat had donated land for a school as early as 1702.
King Mongkut had tried to modernize Siam, enabling it to stand up to the European powers. He was succeeded by his 15-year-old son, Chulalongkorn, who reigned as Rama V, now known as ''Rama the Great''. Rama V was the first Siamese king to have a Western education, having been taught by a British governess,
Anna Leonowens
Anna Harriette Leonowens (born Ann Hariett Emma Edwards; 5 November 1831 – 19 January 1915) was an Anglo-Indian or Indian-born British travel writer, educator, and social activist.
She became well known with the publication of her memoirs, ...
. As
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
developed as the capital of the new nation of Siam, Rama V's government began several nationwide development projects, despite financial hardship. New roads, bridges, railways, hospitals and schools mushroomed throughout the country, all funded from the national budget.
In a speech at a student award ceremony in 1884, the King said;
In 1885, he founded the school, naming it in honour of his mother,
Debsirindra
Debsirindra (, , ), formerly Ramphoei Phamaraphirom (), born Ramphoei Siriwong (; 17 July 1834 – 9 September 1862), was the second consort of King Mongkut, and mother of King Chulalongkorn.
Biography
Princess Ramphoei was born in 1834 to Sir ...
Queen Ramphoei Phamaraphirom (Thai: รำเพยภมราภิรมย์). The school opened with 53 pupils.
In 1902, the first school building was opened, and King Chulalongkorn named it the "Maen Naruemit Building."
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
Thailand, under Field Marshal
Plaek Pibulsongkram, was allied with the
Axis powers
The Axis powers, originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis and also Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis, was the military coalition which initiated World War II and fought against the Allies of World War II, Allies. Its principal members were Nazi Ge ...
and declared war on the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
when the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbor. Bangkok suffered heavily in the subsequent
Allied bombing raids and Debsirin School, strategically located near the railway, was not spared. Most teaching buildings (Maen Naruemit and Choduek Laohasetthi) were destroyed. They were later rebuilt by the alumni and the Ministry of Education. The main building, renamed ''Maen Suksa Stan Building'', was built in the Gothic style.

Today, Debsirin School has a strong alumni network (Debsirin Alumni Association) under royal patronage, several prime ministers of Thailand and members of the royal family. The school also operates as a ''living museum'', containing exhibits on the history of the school and the development of Thai education.
Facts
*School Abbreviation : D.S.
*Type of School : Government Boys' Secondary School
*School Motto : (
Pali
Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...
) (Be not a useless person)
*School Vision : To be a leading organization of learning to international standards. Develop learners for excellence. Have virtue, morality and gentleness. Have the skills to live, aware sense of
Thainess
Thainess, or the Thai identity (, ), is a conceptual identity regarding the quality of being Thai: characteristics seen as distinctive to the Thai people, Thai culture, and those belonging to Thailand as a whole. It forms the central identity upon ...
and be a world potential citizen.
Curriculum
Lower Secondary (M.1-M.3)
* English Program (EP)
* Mini English Program (MEP)
* Standard Curriculum Program
* Enrichment Program of Science, Mathematics, Technology and Environment (SMTE)
* Gifted Science and Mathematics Program (GSMP)
* Chinese Program (CP)
Higher Secondary (M.4-M.6)
* Science-Math Program
* Enrichment Program of Science, Mathematics, Technology and Environment (SMTE)
* Gifted Science and Mathematics Program (GSMP)
* English Program (EP)
* Intensive English Program (IEP)
* Arts-Math Program
* Arts-Language Program
* Intensive Chinese Program (ICP)
* Mini English Program (MEP)
Surrounding places
Wat Debsirindrawas Ratchaworawiharn
Wat Debsirindrawas Ratchaworawiharn is a second class royal temple built at the command of King Rama V as a dedication to Queen Debsirindra, and named Wat Debsirindrawas in 1876. Important architecture includes the ordination hall of Wat Thepsirin, which is large and beautifully decorated with gold leaf patterns and door and window arches, carved ceilings, and royal decorations . The ordination hall houses many important Buddha images, such as Phra Nirantarai, the Buddha image of King Rama IV, which was brought here in 1878 according to King Rama IV's wishes.
Debsirin Network
Notable alumni
King of Thailand
The monarchy of Thailand is the constitutional monarchy, constitutional form of government of Thailand (formerly ''Siam''). The king of Thailand (, historically, ''king of Siam''; ) is the head of state and head of the ruling Chakri dynasty.
...
*
Ananda Mahidol
Ananda Mahidol (20 September 19259 June 1946) was the eighth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam (later Thailand) from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VIII. At the time he was recognised as king by the National Assembly of Thailand, National ...
; Rama VIII King of Thailand
Thai royalty
*
Birabongse Bhanudej
Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (; ; 15 July 191423 December 1985), commonly known as Prince Bira of Siam or simply Prince Bira, was a member of the Chakri dynasty, Thai royal family. Bira was also a racing driver, sailor and pilot, who co ...
; Prince Bira of Siam, Formula One racing driver
Prime ministers of Thailand
The prime minister of Thailand (, , ; literally 'chief minister of state') is the head of government of Thailand. The prime minister is also the chair of the cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Siamese Revolution of 1932, when ...
*
Khuang Aphaiwong
Khuang Aphaiwong (also spelled Kuang, Abhaiwong and Abhaiwongse; , ; 17 May 1902 – 15 March 1968), also known by his noble title Luang Kowit-aphaiwong (, ), was the founder of the Democrat Party and three times the prime minister of Thaila ...
; 4th prime minister of Thailand
*
Seni Pramoj
Mom Rajawongse Seni Pramoj (, , ; 26 May 190528 July 1997) was a Thai professor and politician who served as Prime Minister of Thailand three times. A descendant of the Thai royal family, he was the great-grandson of King Rama II. His final two ...
; 6th prime minister of Thailand
*
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat
Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (also spelt ''Thawal Thamrongnavaswadhi'' or ''Thawal Thamrongnavasawat''; , ; ); 21 November 1901 – 3 December 1988), also known by his noble title as Thai nobility, Luang Thamrongnawasawat, was the eighth Prime Mini ...
; 8th prime minister of Thailand
*
Chatichai Choonhavan
Chatichai Choonhavan (; , ; 5 April 1920 – 6 May 1998) was a Thai army officer, diplomat and politician. From 1986 to 1991, he was the chairman of the Thai Nation Party and served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from August 1988 until the 1 ...
; 17th prime minister of Thailand
Prime ministers of Malaysia
*
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman (8 February 19036 December 1990), commonly referred to as Tunku, was a Malaysian statesman who served as prime minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970. He previously served as the only chief minister of Federation of Malaya ...
; 1st prime minister of Malaysia
Politician
*
Chuvit Kamolvisit; Politician
Writer
*
Kulap Saipradit; or Sri Burapha Thai novelist
*
Bhanubandhu Yugala; Thai film director, producer and screenwriter
*
Sombat Metanee; Thai Actor and film director
*
Prabda Yoon; Thai Writer, graphic designer
References
*
External links
Debsirin Alumni Association Official Page
{{coord, 13, 44, 49.2, N, 100, 30, 57.2, E, type:landmark_region:TH-10, display=title
Boys' schools in Thailand
Schools in Bangkok
1885 establishments in Siam
Pom Prap Sattru Phai district