St Xavier's Institution
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| St Xavier's Institution |
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| Motto | Labor Omnia Vincit "Labor Conquers All" |
| Established | 1787 |
| Type | Government Non-Boarding all-boys secondary School |
| Headmaster | Reverend Brother Paul Ho |
| Founder | Jean-Baptiste de la Salle |
| Students | 1200 |
| Grades | Standard 1 - Standard 6 Form 1 - Form 6 |
| Location | Georgetown, Penang Malaysia |
| Campus | Large School campus, at the city center |
| Colours | Green and gold |
| Abbreviation | SXI |
| Website | www.sxi.edu.my |
St Xavier's Institution is a well-known boys' school in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, named after Saint Francis Xavier, the pioneering Christian missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). It admits girls only for Form 6.
Widely known as SXI, it is the oldest school in Penang and Malaysia. The students of St Xavier's Institution are called Xaverians. SXI is famous for its high achievement in academic, sports and other activities for secondary school levels in Malaysia. It is considered one of the best non-residential schools in Malaysia.
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[edit] History
SXI had humble beginnings in 1787 as a Malay language medium school in a hut in a jungle clearing.
In 1825, as an English medium school, it was named St. Francis Xavier's Free School. On April 20, 1825, the De La Salle Brothers took over the management of the school and its 80 pupils. In 1857 it was relocated in a building of 30x50 metres on Farquhar Street.
During the period, Penang Island was plagued with sanitary issues. The town itself was unsanitary and the mortality rate was high. Despite these conditions, SXI was progressive. It entered its pupils for government scholarships , the prestigious Queen's Scholarships, and from 1892, for the Cambridge exams. The building was enlarged, and in 1900 the enrolment rate rose up to over 400 pupils.
During the 1900s, Penang rose up to be a major shipping port, due to the rise of tin mining and rubber industry. Strict health regulations, the invention of motorcar, the need for rubber tyres and electricity, all these brought prosperity to Penang. SXI had over 1000 pupils and hygiene was a compulsory subject. Morning and afternoon sessions was implemented. The boarding department was flourishing, the school has a spacious playing field and a cadet CORP was formed. But in December 1941, during the Japanese occupation, SXI was bombed. It ceased to function during the Japanese occupation years.
After the war, SXI was housed in huts on the school field pending the completion of the new building. The secondary had "forms" and the primary schools had "standards". SXI had its own laboratories and workshops and a systematic canteen replaced the hawker system. School uniform was compulsory, elaborate prefect and monitor system was established while school games and athletics were more organized. SXI had a Form-6 system, and Bahasa Melayu became the medium of instruction.
The original building was destroyed in World War Two when the allied nations bombed the school which has been used as the navy headquarters for the Imperial Army of Japan. The current building was completed in 1952.
Apart from the main building at Farquhar Street, the branch primary school, SRK St Xaviers Cawangan is situated in Jalan Brother James, Penang.
[edit] La Sallian Brothers
The school has traditionally been headed by the brother of the La Sallian order, with a Brother Director (like a headmaster) and a Brother Supervisor (like a deputy headmaster). In recent years, the Brother Supervisor was replaced with two assistant principles, whom are non-brothers.
The current Principal for SXI is Reverend Brother Paul Ho, also known as the Brother Director. Currently there are 3 brothers still staying in SXI.
[edit] Affliation
SXI is affiliated to other La Sallian schools such as St Michael's Institution (Ipoh), St Francis Institution (Malacca), St George's Institution (Taiping), St Joseph's School (Kota Kinabalu), La Salle School (Petaling Jaya) and St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur.
[edit] Students
As the norm in Malaysian boys secondary schools, girls are enrolled only in the lower and upper sixth forms while Form 1-5 is strictly boys' school. The students of St Xavier's are fondly known as Xaverians.
[edit] Uniform
The traditional uniform was a white shirt, white trousers with a green tie (similar to the uniform of St Joseph's Insitutition in Singapore). In the 1970s, the federal government imposed national school uniforms as opposed to uniforms distinct to each school. Therefore, Xaverians wear the common navy green long pants and white shirt as found in other secondary schools in Malaysia. But the green tie which is a symbol of the institution stayed on.
[edit] School motto
Labor Omnia Vincit (Latin) which means Labour Conquers All.
[edit] School Colour
As with other La Salle schools, the official colour for the school is darkest green
[edit] School Anthem
All through our college a voice is resounding,
Promptly respond to your duty's sweet call,
Hearken you all for the trumpet is sounding,
Your mater's proclaiming her watchwords to all
(Chorus)
Forward her children dear,
Ever with hearts sincere,
Render with joy to your mater her due,
All that is vile reject,
Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St Xavier's valiant and true,
Labour will conquer your motto still bearing,
Forward with courage in ways that are just,
True to your standard, be doing and daring,
As faithful Xaverians in Heaven your trust
(Chorus)
Forward her children dear,
Ever with hearts sincere,
Render with joy to your mater her due,
All that is vile reject,
Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St Xavier's valiant and true!
[edit] Current address
Saint Xavier's Institution, Farquhar Street, 10200 Georgetown Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
SRK St.Xavier's Institution Jalan La Salle Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
SRK St Xavier's Institution Cawangan Jalan Brother James, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
[edit] Notable alumni
Notable people who have studied in St. Xavier's including:
- Kapitan Chung Thye Phin, son of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee and last Kapitan China of Perak.
- Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar, Member of Parliament
