St. Xavier's Institution

St. Xavier's Institution
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Xavier (Malay)
圣方济中学 (Simplified Chinese)
சைன்ட் சவேரியார் உயர்நிலை பள்ளி (Tamil)
Front entrance of St. Xavier's Institution
Address
Map
Farquhar Street,

George Town
,
Penang
,
10200

Malaysia
Coordinates5°25′16″N 100°20′13″E / 5.420978°N 100.336884°E / 5.420978; 100.336884
Information
TypeCo-educational secondary school
MottoLatin: Labor Omnia Vincit
(Labour Conquers All)
Religious affiliation(s)Christian
DenominationRoman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St. Francis Xavier
Established1852; 172 years ago (1852)
FounderDe La Salle Brothers
PrincipalThirumamani s/o Sundaraj[1]
Brother DirectorBr. Jason Blaikie, FSC
GradesForms 1-Upper 6
GenderCo-educational
Colour(s)   Green and gold
Feeder schools
AffiliationsLasallian educational institutions
AbbreviationSXI
Websitewww.sxi.edu.my

St. Xavier's Institution, at Farquhar Street in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, is the oldest Lasallian school in Southeast Asia and one of the Catholic Lasallian schools in Malaysia.[2] While it has a history dating back to 1787, the present-day institution, named after St. Francis Xavier, was only established in 1852.[3][4][5][6]

This secondary school has been an all-boys school since its establishment, although girls have been admitted in Form 6 since the 1950s (but as of 2022, it is now a co-educational secondary school ever since female students were admitted for the first time beginning in Form 1 of the batch born in 2009 for the 2022-2023 Malaysian school academic year). In addition, the school is renowned for producing several notable Malaysian and Singaporean personalities, including Wong Pow Nee, Karpal Singh, Cecil Rajendra and Hon Sui Sen. Students of the school are colloquially known as Xaverians or Lasallians.[7][8]

To this day, St. Xavier's Institution maintains its historical rivalry with Penang Free School, another premier school in George Town which holds the honour of being Malaysia's oldest school.[9] The school has two suburban feeder primary schools at Pulau Tikus and Air Itam.[4][10]

  1. ^ "WELCOMING OUR NEW PRINCIPAL..."
  2. ^ Hong, Ng Soon. "e-Lasallian Network - Bro. Anthony Rogers speaks with BFM Radio on La Salle Legacy". www.e-lasallian.org. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  3. ^ Story, Penang's History-My. "Alma mater right smack in the centre of historical George Town - Community | The Star Online". Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b "About SXI". Saint Xavier's Institution. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Koay A. (2012) 'Legacy of learning' in The Star 13 February 2012". Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  6. ^ Siebert, Dr. A. E. (2002) 'Early Catholic Church, La Salle Education and The Penang Story' in The Penang Story – International Conference 2002 18-21 April 2002, The City Bayview Hotel, Penang, Malaysia Organisers: The Penang Heritage Trust & STAR Publications
  7. ^ "Old Penang: St Xavier's Institution - anilnetto.com". anilnetto.com. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Xaverians aim for largest reunion bash - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Penang Free School has a long history with St Xavier's Institution - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  10. ^ "St Xavier's Branch School". Time Out Penang. Retrieved 5 May 2017.