Queen Saovabha Phongsri’s vision pulses in the very walls of the Rajini School. Rajini School stands as a testament to Thailand’s educational evolution. We are standing before a landmark. It is more than just a school. It is a historic institution. It embodies traditional values.
Rajini School started as a replacement for the Sunanthalai School. Queen Saovabha Phongsri founded it in 1904. The Queen previously sponsored Sunanthalai School. Rajini means “the Queen’s School”.
The late 19th century saw Siam modernizing its education system. King Chulalongkorn focused mainly on male education. Schools for girls lagged behind. Queen Saovabha established Sunanthalai Girls’ School in 1892. This was partly a response to the rise of Christian schools. Sunanthalai taught royal domestic skills and academic subjects. The government was less enthusiastic. The school closed in 1902 due to financial struggles.
Queen Saovabha used her own funds to establish Rajini School. She viewed Sunanthalai’s curriculum as too Western. Tetsu Yasui was hired as the first principal. She gave the school an Eastern orientation. Rajini School became popular among aristocratic families. It expanded thanks to fundraising.
Initially, Rajini School was at the corner of Damrongrak and Chakphet roads. It later moved to a riverside building near Tha Chang Wang Na. King granted permission for the school to move to Sunanthalai School’s previous campus in 1906. It has remained there ever since.
Princess Bichitra Chirabha Devakul became the principal in 1907. She was influential in the school’s early development. After Queen Saovabha’s death in 1919 royals patronized the school. The Rajini Foundation was registered in 1941 to manage it.
Rajini School is next to Rachini Pier and Sanam Chai MRT station. The school has ten buildings. Five buildings hold classes. The Sunanthalai Building is the most historic.
King Chulalongkorn commissioned the Sunanthalai Building in 1880. It was named in memory of Queen Sunanda Kumariratana. Some attribute it to Italian architect Joachim Grassi. The design is neoclassical. It has a cross-shaped plan and hipped roof. A decorative pediment features stucco work. It depicts the royal coat of arms and the name Royal Seminary. The building has two floors behind arcades. The front had a tiered octagonal dome-shaped roof. It was removed between 1917 and 1946.
The South Sunanthalai Building was demolished due to deterioration. Sunanthalai Building received the ASA Architectural Conservation Award in 1982. Restoration work occurred in 1985. The Rajini Foundation commissioned major restoration work in 2005. It aimed to restore the building to its original appearance. A fire in 2005 damaged the roof structure. Restoration continued. It finished in 2006. The building became an ancient monument on June 23 2005.
The Rajini Foundation owns Rajini School. The school teaches kindergarten to upper secondary levels. It admits a few boys in kindergarten and primary levels. The school had 2861 students in 2019.
Rajini School continues to emphasize qualities of the “Thai lady”. It teaches traditional handicrafts and skills. Students demonstrate crafts at art festivals.
Many notable figures have attended Rajini School. These include Queen Sirikit and Princess Bajrakitiyabha. Actresses and musicians also attended Rajini School.
As you stand here take a moment to appreciate the lasting legacy. Rajini School has shaped generations of Thai women. Its commitment to tradition and progress continues to inspire. The Rajini School stands not just as a building. It stands as a symbol of Thailand’s rich cultural and educational heritage.