The School was founded in 1877 by Rev. Father Émile August Colombet, a French Abbot of Assumption Church in order to tackle with the educational neglect and the ignorance of children around the area of the church. The school was primarily named Thai-Farang School and aimed to teach French and Thai to students. There were 12 students on the first day of school. Despite the inattentiveness of students at that time, Pastor Colombet with his insightful vision provided English as an additional language teaching. The school was officially opened on 16th February A.D. 1885 in the name of Collège De L’Assomption. The first college building was the big wooden house, which was previously used as the accommodation for Catholic novices. Parents were encouraged to send their children to the academy, and there were a total of 33 students on the first day of school. At the end of the year, the number of students had increased to 80 and became 130 by the following year.
As the number of students maximized and the school was gradually recognized by many people, the pastor decided to construct another building by submitting a petition to King Rama V and his Queen for a Royal Grant. The news of fundraising was spreading among the aristocracy, including Thai and foreign merchants in Bangkok, and they all wholeheartedly supported the donation.
On 15th August A.D.1887 King Rama Vendorsed His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vachirunnahit to perform the school groundbreaking ceremony (laying the foundation stone) at the first school building, later became known as the ‘Old Building.’
On 15th August A.D.1887 King Rama Vendorsed His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vachirunnahit to perform the school groundbreaking ceremony (laying the foundation stone) at the first school building, later became known as the ‘Old Building.’
The St. Gabriel delegated 5 brothers to Thailand
On 20th October A.D.1901 the St. Gabriel delegated 5 brothers to Thailand to continue Father Colombet’s educational determination due to the deterioration of his health. They were Rev. Bro. Martin de Tours (The Second Director), Rev. Bro.Abel, Rev. Bro. Auguste, Brother Gabriel Ferretti, and Rev. Bro. Hilaire who extensively continued the educational objectives of Father Colombet.
Assumption College
The school was regarded as the first academy of the St. Gabriel’s Foundation in Thailand, which accepted only male students. Later, in the year of A.D. 1910 the school changed its name to Assumption College, or AC (อสช) which means “the place of sinful abnegation and of pursuit of knowledge.” Meanwhile, “Assumption” refers to the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, who honorably ascended to heaven with both a physical and spiritual assumption.
The number of Assumption College students continued to increase significantly each year and the existing study hall could not accommodate the increasing demand from the parents and alumni. Consequently, the Brothers of St. Gabriel initiated the construction of the Assumption College Primary Section. The campus is located at 164 Soi Sathorn 11, Sathorntai Rd., Bangkok with the area of 8 Rai.
In the 2002 academic year the school opened the English Program in accordance with the curriculum of the Ministry of Education as an alternative educational platform for students who were interested in that form of educational program.
Since the opening of the institution in 1885, the Assumption students have remarkably demonstrated their integrated life skills to the society along with their high performance of knowledge, intellectual abilities and morality, which have enabled their impressive career achievements. Among them are 4 former Prime Ministers who devotedly served their country:
• Praya Manopakhon Nitithada (Student ID: 961), the first Prime Minister
• Major Kuang Aphaiyawong (Student ID: 2990), the fourth Prime Minister
• MR Seni Pramoj (Student ID: 3567), the sixth Prime Minister
• Prof. Sanya Thammasak (Student ID: 3570), the twelfth Prime Minister
The school adheres to an educational management that promotes and instills in the students with self-developing characteristic, which will facilitate their public engagement in accordance with the demand of the society. They will attain social responsibility, sacrifice, pacifism, and morality and become a respectable role model for the society.
A Short Biography of Father Emile August Colombet
Father Émile August Colombet was born on 26th May A.D. 1849 in Gap, Hautes-Alps in France. He was baptized to become a priest in the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris. He arrived in Thailand on 5th April A.D. 1872 and worked as a teacher at Bang Nok Quake Seminary for 2 years, from January to November A.D. 1875. Then, he worked as an assistant Abbot at Holy Rosary Church (Wat Kalawa) and was later appointed to be Abbot of Assumption Church.
In A.D. 1877 Father Colombet founded the school of the Assumption Church. He used the old building of the Assumption Seminary as the school to provide education in French and Thai to Christian and European children. Later in A.D. 1879 lessons taught in English were provided in addition to the French program. On 16th February A.D. 1885 the school of the church was renamed “Assumption College” and opened for children in Bangkok to enroll in the school. Later, Father Colombet proposed an educational expansion project and the construction of a new building dedicated to His Royal Highness Prince Devawongse Varopakarn. On this occasion King Rama V granted monies for 50 chang (ชั่ง) and the queen (Her Majesty Queen Savang Vadhana) also donated monies for 25 chang (ชั่ง) for the construction. Other members of the royal family and high-ranking officers kindly supported these donations as well.
Father Colombet then returned to France to meet with the Superior General of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel at Saint Laurent-sur-Sèvre in France and delegated the mission of Assumption College to the Montfort Brothers.
In A.D. 1900 the Superior of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel appointed first 5 brothers comprising Brother Martin De Tours, Brother Abel, Brother Auguste, Brother Gabriel Ferretti, and Brother Hilaire to administer Assumption College. They all arrived in Thailand on 20th October A.D. 1901.
Father Colombet initiated the foundation of “The Assumption Alumni” in A.D. 1904. Later, he was appointed to be the deputy of the Bishop for the Mission and in A.D. 1909 acted temporarily as the Bishop.
In 20th December A.D. 1922 Father Colombet was conferred the Insignia of La L’gion D’Honneur from the French Government to commemorate his merit which built the reputation for the country. He was also conferred the Insignia of Member (Fifth Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant from King Rama V for his merit to Siam.
A Short Biography of Brother Hilaire
F. Hilaire was born as Francois Touvénet. The abbreviation “F.” originated from “Frère” in French which means “Brother” in English. He was born on 18th January A.D. 1880 in Poitiers, France. In his early years he received his primary education at a local school. Due to his inclination to the Catholic faith, he later asked for his parents’ permission to study in the conference center of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel at Saint Laurent-sur-Sèvre in Vendée.
After his studies in theology, pedagogy and other subjects, Brother Hilaire proclaimed his dedication to God and became a Brother at the age of 18. He rigorously practiced religious missions as a decent solitary cleric acting as a role model for a good teacher.
When all 5 brothers assumed the school administration after Father Colombet, with the leadership of Brother Martin De Tours, Brother Hilaire was only 20 years old, which was the youngest of all brothers.
In his early years, in Thailand, he was not fluent in English and insufficient in Thai. Meanwhile, Father Colombet had been hospitalized in France. Brother Hilaire thus had to necessarily study Thai by listening to Thai students and regularly reciting Thai study book (Mulabod Banpakij) until he was conversant with the rhythm of the Thai language. With his effort to study Thai language, he was appointed to be the school receptionist and recruit new students. His most important duty was to train students’ attitude and morality with his eloquent preaching at the school auditorium every Saturday. After living in Thailand for 9 years, he wrote a Thai study book known as “Darunsuksa” which is still in use.
Brother Hilaire was once the discipline master and thus was known for his strict adherence to school rules and regulations along with his compelling characteristics which every graduate student could recall.
The Brother was full of the teacher spirit. Whenever he was free from administrative responsibilities, he would take on a teacher role. His students remembered him not as a disciplinarian, but a compassionate teacher in the classroom. Meanwhile, his strict characteristics were also recognizable outside the classroom. His favorite subjects were Thai to English and English to Thai translations. If a Thai-teaching teacher was absent, he sometimes would fill in for the class teaching Thai. Later in his life, Brother Hilaire had suffered from diabetes and had to be hospitalized at St. Louis Hospital. He was aged 70 by that time. To honor his merit, the French Ambassador made a request for him to be awarded the Insignia of La L’gion D’Honneur.
With lots of working experience in the school, in his old age Brother Hilaire informally acted as the consultant for the school principals. He later developed dementia and amnesia, eventually losing his eyesight and was unable to read and write. The doctor diagnosed his symptoms as a hemorrhagic stroke and he had to be hospitalized.
He passed away on Thursday 3rd October A.D. 1968 (B.E. 2511) at the age of 87. Had he lived for another 17 days, he would have lived and worked in Thailand for 67 years.
