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1847 |
By
arranging for the Anglican Mission to come to Sarawak, Sir James
Brooke introduced education to the State. The adult school started
by Rev William Bolham Wright stood for the beginning. Conducted in
the dispensary of the priest cum doctor Francis Thomas MacDougall,
it had six students. |
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05 Aug 1848
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MacDougall rented any empty house in the bazaar for his first boy's
School, starting with 9 boys. This home school which was to evolve
into the St Thomas of today was run entirely on mission funds, but
tremendous assistance from the Rajah was evident. By granting land
(College Hill) to the mission, he made building of Mission House
possible.
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1850
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20 pupils.
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1855
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25 pupils.
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Feb 1857
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The school was caught in the Chinese revolt. Though the boarders
were smuggled out of town and kept safe, 2 day-pupils were caught
and killed by the rebels. Much of the school's equipment was
destroyed, but was quickly replaced when things were returned to
normal.
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1863
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43 pupils.
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1876
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62 pupils.
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1877
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The school was threatened by an epidemic of cholera in the State,
which claimed the life of the head monitor of the school, Sidukal.
the pupils were evacuated to Santubong to ride the epidemic out.
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1885
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The earliest building of St Thomas was built at a cost of $6,500/-.
The architect was Mr H Averett, and the completed school building
(1886) was declared open by Rajah Charles Brooke and blessed by
Bishop Hose. The first stage of the main building had three
classrooms on the ground floor. Above were the dormitories and
master's quarters. It was made possible mainly from donations by
Hishop Chambers and Rajah Charles Brooke.
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1886
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75 pupils.
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1887
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110 pupils.
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1896
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147 pupils.
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1909
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252 pupils, 72 were borders.
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1913
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Under Bishop Mounsey, a new wing including a second tower was added
to the school block, which gives it its present look.
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1916
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The dining hall (P'Chient Hall) was built and opened.
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1919
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There was record of 7 standards.
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1927
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The assembly hall adjacent to the main building was completed. It
has a hall on the ground floor and two classrooms above and was made
possible by funds from the Mission ($6,000/-) and and $8,000 gift
from the Rajah.
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1929
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Two large buildings containing the four boarding houses were built
again from money given by the Rajah. It was declared open by Justice
Boyd. The main domitories, sick room and chapel in the old building
were turned into classrooms. The top dormitories became stores. The
P'Chient Hall became the new chapel and the kitchen became the
vestry.
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1930
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The junior certificate was sat for the first time in 1930.
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1935
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The senior certificate was first held.
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Dec 1941
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The school was taken over as an army camp during Japanese
occupation, with the Principal's house turned into its headquaters.
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1945
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At the end of the war, as a result of allied bombing and stripping
of badly needed timber, the boarding houses, Principal's houses and
offices were left in ruin.
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1952
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A new tuckshop was built.
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1953
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The Higher School Certificate was sat for the first time.
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29 May 1953
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A new science block was declared opened by the Governor of Sarawak,
Sir Anthony Abell. On the same day shcool uniform became
compulsory.
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1956
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As the school grew bigger, the difficulty of maintaining adequate
funds for the running of the school became more acute. After lengthy
process of assessment and careful consideration, St Thomas School
became an aided school, with 50% of approved capital expenditure
being undertaken by the government.
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1957
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Common entrance examination was introudced, where 30% of the
students from primary school was selected for secondary school.
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Nov 1957
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Work on the new primary school building started.
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Jun 1958
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The newly completed primary school building was declared open by
Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang (whom donated $50,000/-), the government
contributed 50% of the construction cost.
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1969
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A new assembly hall was completed, named after the main donor, Datuk
James Wong ($80,000/-). The other major donor was Datuk Wee Hood
Teck. The ground floor had four classrooms, a library and toilets.
The building was declared opened by TYT Yang Di Pertua Negeri
Sarawak, Tan Sri Tuanku Haji Bujang.
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04 Jan 1972
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Junior secondary school moved in to the newly completed block, with
toilets, bicycle shed and driveway.
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1973
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The 125th anniversary of the founding of the First Anglican Schools
in Kuching.
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12 Mar 1973
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The late Tun Hussein Onn, then Education Minister, officially
declared oepn teh new Junior secondary school
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May 1973
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Mr Song Thian Eng, one of the most faithful, longest serving and the
most famous student and staff of the School retired as the
Headmaster. He was awared ABS by the governent for his contribution
to education.
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1974
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The common entrance examination was abolished, leading to automatic
promotion to Form One in line with the government's comprehensive
education system. Primary 5 assessment test was introduced.
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1976
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Local Junior Examination was replaced by L.C.E.
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1979
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Senior Cambrige Examination was replaced by M.C.E.
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5 Oct 1979
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The main school building was burned down, leaving an empty
shell apart from the two towers that defied burning. The school
library which occupied the first floor, scouts' den at the attic and
the roof, with lecture hall, audio visual room and other classrooms
on the ground floor were consumed. Under the chairmanship of the
late Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui, a fund raising committee comprising most
of the high ranking officers and politicians in the state set out to
raise the necessary fund to restore the main block.
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14 May 1989
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The principal's office and staff room was burned, though little was
lost, much records was consumed.
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The above summarized history of the
school was based on the writings by Dr William E H Voon and
Archdeacon Michael Lim. Please email us if you have any event that
you think it should be listed here.
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