Victoria Institution
Victoria Institution | |
---|---|
Location | |
, Wilayah Perseketuan | |
Information | |
Type | Government Non-Boarding all-boys secondary School |
Motto | To Be a Scholar, a Sportsman and a Gentlemen |
Established | 14 August1893 |
Headmaster | Aliff Bin Azmi |
Grades | Form 1 - Form 6 |
Enrolment | 1200 |
Campus | Large School campus, at the edge of city centre |
Colour(s) | Navy blue & Royal Blue (taken after the colours of Oxford University and Cambridge University) |
Affiliations | Malaysia Ministry Of Education |
Abbreviation | V.I. |
Website | www.viweb.cjb.net |
Victoria Institution (Malay: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Victoria) is a premier secondary school for boys (and girls for Form 6) and one of the oldest schools in Kuala Lumpur. The school is widely known as VI and the students of Victoria Institution bear the famous name "Immortal Victorians".
VI is famous for its high achievement in academic, sports and other activities for secondary school level in Malaysia. It is considered one of the best non-residential schools in Malaysia. The school is named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and was opened specially to commemorate her golden jubilee of reign.
Recently, VI was named as one of the 'cluster school' of excellence by the Malaysian Ministry of Education, which will be given autonomy in administration and adequate funding to excel in specialised fields (academic, sports and extra-curricular activities) of choice.
History
In the 1880s, Raffles Institution in Singapore flourished as one of the most outstanding schools of its time. Some prominent citizens, including the Kapitan Cina (Chinese Captain) of Kuala Lumpur, Yap Kwan Seng, Towkay Loke Yew, and Thamboosamy Pillay, saw the need of a good English school in Kuala Lumpur. With the support of British Resident at Selangor, Sir WH Treacher and donation from Sultan Abdul Samad, The Sultan of Selangor, they built the Victoria Institution in 1893. The name of the school was taken to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Source : VI Web Page
School Buildings
Victoria Institution (VI) today showcases a prime example of British colonial architecture. Sporting a majestic clocktower (which has only been recently repaired) that overlooks two sports pavilion and a vast field, surrounded by aged colonial-era trees (e.g. yellow flame trees & palms). The structures that make up the Institution itself is a heritage of the nation. While the modern-day Ministry of Education has added many rectangular-shaped blocks to the Institution, the distinctive "E" shape of the main block is still one of the more interesting features of Kuala Lumpur.
However, the present day location of Victoria Instution on Petaling Hill (previously a Chinese/Muslim cemetery area), is not the original site for VI. The original school building was located at Jalan Bandar, and was officially opened on the 30th of July 1894. In March 1929 the school shifted its location to Jalan Hang Tuah, as the old location was frequently flooded by the nearby Klang River during heavy downpours. The old VI building was used as police station, art gallery, office block, theatre, until, unfortunately, an overnight fire in 1999 burnt down the historical building. Reference.
VI also has its own swimming pool and Synthetic track for 100 metres sprint event, making it the only school in the region to sport these facilities.
Source : VI Web Page
School's Song
The School Song
The original 1949 version with exact words and punctuation by G. F. Jackson. The song is sung to the tune of 'Gaudeamus Igitur', one of the oldest students' songs (author unknown). The school song alludes to the free and easy student life of medieval times.
Let us now with thankfulness
Praise the founders of our School.
Let us now with thankfulness
Praise the founders of our School
For their foresight and devotion,
Some who came across the ocean,
Some Malaysia's own sons,
All true Victorians.
Let us next remember here
All who passed through this our School.
Let us next remember here
All who passed through this our School,
Not one race but one in feeling
For a school to each appealing
That instruction be not all
Nor this School just roof and wall.
Let us lastly pledge ourselves
Ever to uphold our School.
Let us lastly pledge ourselves
Ever to uphold our School.
In our work and in our leisure,
With such zeal and in such measure
That the new Victorians
Match with Old Victorians.
Click here to listen to the School Song
Lagu Sekolah
Words by Zainab bt Yusop
Sanjungan didendangkan
Pengasas nan budiman
Sanjungan didendangkan
Pengasas nan budiman
Kerana jasa khidmat mulia
Yang mengharung samuderaya
Dan putera Malaysia
Kekal cita Victoria
Kenangan dilayangkan
Pada semua lepasan
Kenangan dilayangkan
Pada semua lepasan
Lain bangsa satu cita
Diingatkan pada semua
Ilmu zahir utama
Rohani pun setara
Ikrar pula lafazkan
Junjung sekolah pujaan
Ikrar pula lafazkan
Junjung sekolah pujaan
Dalam usaha gerak laku
Warisan lama dan baru
Bergandingan, bersatu
Hidup Victoria diaju
Student Life
What defines Victoria Institution as a remarkable institution is the experience its students gain outside the classroom. Victorians, as the students of VI call themselves, take pride in identifying themselves as a class of active students, both in and out the classroom. It is an unspoken rule that all freshman students are required to join at least one uniform body, take on an active role in one of the school's 50 clubs and to participate in a least one sport. That said, V.I. has a variety of clubs, uniformed bodies and sports that caters for all sort of interests. The student life in the Victoria Institution often revolves around societies and clubs and sport teams, despite the fact that VI is located in the center of a metropolitan city like Kuala Lumpur.
Rivalry
As with many older education institutions, VI has its fair share of rivals, both regionally in Kuala Lumpur and nationally. St. John's Institution is VI's traditional regional archrival. This rivalry can be best observed during sports tournament between these two schools. Nationally, VI also has a rivalry-traditional with two elite institutions - the Royal Military College, Kuala Lumpur and the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, the rivalry with the former apparent in the soccer and rugby MSSKL state level tournaments and the rivalry with the latter apparent at in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, a soccer playoff between the premier schools of Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
Traditions and Heritage
Victoria Institution is a school that is rich with its own heritage and traditions. Being one of the oldest schools in Malaysia, and is responsible for the lifelong memories of Victorians old and new. While many of the colonial-period traditions have slowly eroded over the years, VI still holds steadfast to the various traditions of its glorious past. For instance, the modus-operandi for the prefect disciplinary system is very much similar to the tradition laid out by the founders of the prefect board - Major Richard Sydney, VI's 2nd headmaster VI First Prefects.
Detention classes and community service are still the common penalties for misdemeanours in VI, whereas such traditions are no longer in practice in many Malaysian schools. Victorians are also popular and (in)famous for annual events such as the Military Tattoo (performance by marching bands and cadets), Scouts' Campfire (rescue act by senior scouts), Annual Sports Carnival, Speech Days, and Science Fairs. Victoria Institution is the only school in Malaysia who has its own Edinburgh styled Military Tattoo.
Sports
V.I has proud history of achievements in sports, having won many state and national championships throughout the past century. VI currently participates in the Bangsar zone at district level and in the MSSKL (Kuala Lumpur School Sports Council) tournament at the state level. Among the sports that VI is famous for are football, rugby, cricket, basketball, waterpolo, badminton, archery, Hockey, handball, volleyball, athletics, tennis, table-tennis. VI is currently a defending champion in football, cricket and waterpolo at the state level. VI plays MCKK in football for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup every year with the venue alternate each year between the two schools. Because of its strong tradition in sports, VI has produced many famous Malaysian sportsmen including Mokhtar Dahari, Sidek's Brothers and Datuk Dr Mani Jegathesan. Many other unsung heroes of VI sports achievements are certainly the coaches, teachers and senior students who had often spare time and effort of their own for the sake of the school.
House
There are eight sport houses in VI. Every year the sports houses compete against each other on sports day. The Victoria Institution Sports Day has been held since 1897, and is widely regarded as a citywide event, with huge crowds converging on the Victoria Institution campus. The houses are named after the founders of the school. The current houses are:
- Thamboosamy, (green)
- Lee Kuan Yew (formerly known as Hepponstall, named after the first unofficial Principal of VI )(yellow)
- Sultan Abdul Samad ( formerly known as Davidson, named after the earlier Selangor Resident, J.G Davidson ) (purple)
- Rodger(orange)
- Loke Yew (Brown)
- Shaw (Red)
- Yap Kwan Seng (Light Blue)
- Treacher (Dark Blue)
Uniform Bodies, Clubs, Societies and Boards
Victoria Institution's marching band, formally known as the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps Band (VICCB), is nationally and internationally recognized. It is the perennial state and national champion for marching band performance. The VICCB has also participated in numerous music festivals and events in Malaysia and around the globe. Its numerous trophies and awards are testimony to the countless hours its members put into their practice and training. Victoria Institution also can pride itself for having the oldest cadet infantry corp, Scout Groups and Red Cross/Crescent Corps. The students' response towards the formation of a Scout Group was so encouraging that two scout groups were formed, namely the 1st Kuala Lumpur Scout Group and the 2nd Kuala Lumpur Scout, known as the Victoria Scout Group (VSG). The rivalry and competition between the uniform bodies within the Institution is also a well-known fact amongst Victorians.
Prefects
Victoria Institution has one of the oldest prefects board in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It was founded on 6th April 1923. The maximum number of prefects in the board at any one time cannot exceed 30, ensuring the ratio of prefects to students remain in the range of 1 prefect for every 52 students. The first School Captain was Othman bin Mohamad, who was also a hostelite.
Prefects represent the ideal Victorian, and the process of nomination for prefecture by teachers and senior prefects, interviews by the disciplinary board, elimination processes and a several month stint as a 'Temporary Prefect' (a probationary term). Victorian prefects comprise only of those with outstanding leadership qualities, those who are excellent all-rounders and those who have the uncanny ability to react to ad hoc situations, as recent events have shown.
The motto for the Victoria Institution Prefects Board is, "On the bearing of the Prefects depends the tone of the School"
Alumni
The alumni association of VI is known as the VIOBA (Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association) and was founded in 1922. The games competition between the Current Victorians and the Old Boys is known as 'Daniel Shield' and this tournament is held every year. Many Victorian alumni go on to become prominent figures in Malaysia and neighbouring nations. Notable Victoria Institution Old Boys include:
- Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan Of Brunei
- Ananda Krishnan, businessman and one of Malaysia's richest men
- Francis Yeoh, Businessman
- Mokhtar Dahari the late, Former Malaysian Football International
- Lall Singh, Former Indian Test cricketer
- Raja Petra Kamarudin, started the Malaysia Today website
- S. Rajaratnam, former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
- Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia International Trade and Industry Minister
- Zulhasnan Rafique, Malaysia Federal Territories Minister
- Datuk Dr Mani Jegathesan, sports icon, accomplished doctor and researcher and deputy president of Olympic Council of Malaysia.
- R. Thampipillay, educationist
- Zaman Khan, former prisons chief
- Shahnon Ahmad, a well-known poet and writer
- Rashid Sidek, one of the nation's top badminton player
- Kamahl cabaret/easy listening singer and recording artist, famous for The Elephant Song, currently based in Australia
- Tan Sri Dr Ramon Navaratnam, prominent Malaysian economist
- Datuk Mahadev Shankar, prominent lawyer and former Court of Appeal Judge
- Justice Datuk K.P. Gengadharan Nair, High Court Judge
- Sivarasa Rasiah, a human rights lawyer and vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party)
References
- Victoria Institution Web Page
- Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association
- Victorian Personalities
- The Victorian (Annual school magazine)