2464 Buddhist Era (BE) (1921 CE[1])

The government issued the Compulsory Education Act, which granted the general public the opportunity to receive an education. As the demand for teachers increased, the province of Phitsanulok responded by introducing a professional teaching curriculum at Phitsanulok Pittayakom School for 11th and 12th grade students. Upon graduation, the government would employ them as certified teachers.

2469 BE (1926 CE)

The province of Phitsanulok received a budget from the Ministry of Education, then known as the Ministry of Public Instruction, and donations from local merchants to construct a Teacher Training School on the grounds of Chan Royal Palace. The school was established as a male teacher training school and was graciously named by His Majesty King Rama VII. The inauguration of the school building was presided over by His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rambai Barni, on January 7, 1926, at around 3:30 PM. The certificates issued by the Ministry of Interior to the graduating students used the name “Phitsanu Withayayon Teacher Training School”. Subsequently, the school relocated and changed its name. The government later ordered the closure of the school after it moved to a new location.

2476 BE (1933 CE)

The Ministry of Education established a teacher training department at Prachanukroh School in Phitsanulok province (currently known as Chalermkwan Satree School). The department offered three different teacher training programs: the Mulan Sentence Teacher Certificate Program (Krue Poo), the Provincial Certificate Teacher Program (Krue Wan), and the Public Teacher Certificate Program (Poo Poo) in consecutive order[2]. However, in the year 2486 of the Buddhist Era (1943 CE), the teacher training department and Chalermkwan Satree School were separated, and another school named the Phitsanulok Teacher Training School for Women was established. Although they were physically separated, the two institutions continued to share the same location. The Phitsanulok Teacher Training School for Women remained under the supervision of the Department of General Education.

2497 BE (1954 CE)

The Ministry of Education established the Teacher Training Department and transferred the Pitsanulok Girls’ Teacher Training School to be under the supervision of the Teacher Training Department. The curriculum was improved and transformed into a certificate of academic education (Prathom Suksa). In 2498 BE (1955 CE), the government built a new school called “Chalermkwan Satree School for Girls” across the river from the original school. However, the Chalermkwan Satree School for Girls relocated to a new location, so the government handed over the new school to the Pitsanulok Girls’ Teacher Training School.

1 June 2499 BE (1956 CE)

On 1 June 2499, the Pitsanulok Girls’ Teacher Training School separated from Chalermkwan Satree School and established itself at a new location on Wang Chan Road. On 23 June 2499 BE (1956 CE), it changed its name to “Pibulsongkram Teacher Training School” and started accepting female students as regular students, while male students commuted from other schools. Since then, Pibulsongkram Teacher Training School has been growing steadily. It expanded its land area by acquiring the adjacent land of the male vocational school, resulting in a current land area of 40 rai 1 ngan 44 square wah. It also acquired land on the opposite side, belonging to the Air Force, with an area of 120 rai which is currently used by Naresuan University. In 2504 BE (1961 CE), the school was elevated to the status of Pibulsongkram College, offering a high-level vocational certificate continuously followed by a certificate of academic education (Prathom Suksa). Later, it produced emergency teachers through a certificate program for primary education teachers taught during non-working hours, from 17:00 to 20:00 on working days. In 2517 BE (1974 CE), it opened a bachelor’s degree program for Thai language teaching.

2518 BE (1975 CE)

The government announced the use of the Teacher College Act, which established the Council for Teacher Training responsible for setting policies and managing operations in teacher colleges nationwide. The position of school principal was changed to the position of College Director. The management of the college was structured into faculties and departments or centers equivalent to faculties.

2519 BE (1976 CE)

The Council for Teacher Training announced the cancellation of the previous curriculum, the certificate of academic education (Prathom Suksa), and introduced a new teacher training curriculum at two levels: the high-level certificate of academic education (Prathom Suksa Song) and the bachelor’s degree level, which awarded a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). The college discontinued accepting part-time students and switched to offering continuous education in the form of a certificate program in high-level academic education during working hours from 17:00 to 20:00 on working days.

2522 BE (1979 CE)

The training program for teachers and educational personnel in service (Akkapon) was initiated. It offered training for educational personnel on weekends, covering various levels of education such as Prathom Suksa[3], Prathom Suksa Song[4], and bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, the continuous teacher training program was discontinued

2524 BE (1981 CE)

The Teacher College received approval from the Prime Minister’s Office to utilize 1,000 rai of public land in Thung Ta Laeo for expanding the college. The initial phase of land utilization was 40 rai.

2527 BE (1984 CE)

An amendment to the Teacher College Act allowed colleges to offer bachelor’s degree programs in other fields of study. Additionally, community colleges were established in the Thung Ta Laeo area, offering technical vocational certificate programs (A.Voc.) while discontinuing the vocational certificate programs (P.Tho.).

2530 BE (1987 CE)

The in-service training program for teachers and educational personnel (Akkapon) was discontinued and replaced with the Staff Education Program (Kasapaban), offered on Saturdays and Sundays, at both the undergraduate and bachelor’s degree levels.

14 February 2535 BE (1992 CE)

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej graciously bestowed the name “Rajabhat Institute” upon Rajabhat Institute Pibulsongkram in accordance with the Rajabhat Institute Act of 1995.

15 June 2547 BE (2004 CE)

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej graciously granted the royal proclamation of the Rajabhat University Act of 2004, and it was published in the Royal Gazette on June 14, 2547 BE (2004 CE). As a result, Rajabhat Institute Pibulsongkram was elevated to the status of Rajabhat University starting from June 15, 2547 BE (2004 CE).

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[1] CE denotes ‘Current Era’ which is a non-secular term commonly used by scholars and academics

[2] Translated from จัดการศึกษาหลัดสูตรประโยคครูมูล (ครู ป.) หลักสูตรประโยคครูประกาศนียบัตรจังหวัด (ครู.ว) และหลักสูตรเป็นประกาศนียบัตรครูประชาบาล (ป.ป.) NOTE We struggled to find the correct translation for these programs

[3] Translated from ‘ ป.กศ.‘ NOTE I feel that it is better to use this phrase as opposed to the longer English translation

[4] Translated from ‘ป.กศ.ชั้นสูง’ NOTE I feel that it is better to use this phrase as opposed to the longer English translation