St. Paul’s High School, Rangoon is the Second De La Salle School.
SPHS ran from 1860 – 1965.
It was nationalized on April 1, 1965. Non-native Brothers had to leave Burma.
It was renamed No. 6 State High School, Botathaung.
စိန့်ပေါလ် အထက်တန်းကျောင်း
1860
De La Salle Brothers ရန်ကုန် မှာ ကျောင်းဖွင့် Opened St. Paul’s English High School in Rangoon.
1885
ကျောင်း ကို နေရာသစ် ပြောင်းရွှေ့ Moved the school to a new location
1960
* ရာပြည့် Centennial
1965
ပြည်သူပိုင်သိမ်း Nationalized on April 1st; Non-native Brothers left Burma
အမည် ပြောင်း — SHS(6) ဗိုလ်တထောင် Renamed as No. 6 Botathaung State High School
2010
နှစ် 150 ပြည့် Sesquicentennial
မှတ်တမ်း များ
SPHS Badge နဲ့ Motto
Badge
SPHS ရှေ့ ကျောင်းကြို ဖို့ စောင့်နေကြ
Cars waiting to pick up students
Yangon Heritage Society — Blue Plaque
Blue Plaque
1959 Matriculates / Scholarship Winners
SPHS59
1960 Matriculates / Scholarship Winners
SPHS60
1951 – 1963 Top Matriculates Roll of Honor
Top Matriculates
1963 Scholarship Winners
SPHS63
SPHS Blazer Coat & Badge
SPHS Blazer Coat & Badge
De La Salle Brothers
De La Salle Brothers in Burma (1955)
OPA (Old Paulians’ Association) Pu Zaw Pwe Organizers
OPA
Gallery
Mao Toon Siong (SPHS55, Table Tennis)U Soe Paing (SPHS56, UCC cofounder)Ko Ko Lay (SPHS56, UCC cofounder)Myo Min (SPHS58, UCC cofounder)Dr. Soe Win (SPHS58) and Family Charlie Hla Myint (SPHS59, Swimming & Water Polo)Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint (SPHS60, Medical Institute Historian)SPHS60 GatheringThan Htut (SPHS60, Rowing)Nay Oke (SPHS61, OPA President)Htun Aung Kyaw & Aung Khin (SPHS61)Hla Min (SPHS63)SPHS63
Update
Old Paulians’ Association opened SPHS Museum on St. Paul’s Day (June 30) in 2025
Three of the 1963 Scholarship Winners — Myo San / Freddie Ba San, Aung Thu Yein / Brownie Way and Maung Maung Kyi — have passed away.
Thanks to Saya U Soe Paing for his great endeavour in visiting the UCL (Universities’ Central Library) numerous times [in January 2012] to gather and record invaluable information relating to RIT (and BOC college of Engineering as well). And thanks to you for archiving all through your emails and keeping all RITians gelled together.
Only when did Saya U Soe Paing mention Engineering Students’ Magazines, that I happen to recall one Engineering Students’ Magazine in which I was part of it. That was in Academic Year 1960-1961. I was still an Electrical Engineering Student at that time (2nd year, or, by the present calling, 4th year). At Rangoon University (Main University) they had a University Students’ Union (in Burmese, Thud Meg-ga is translated as Union), and we had correspondingly an Engineering Students’ Union as well at our Faculty of Engineering at Leik-Khone (Dome), Prome Road.
At that time I met one Ko Hla Tin (Civil) who was my senior and several years older than me, staying at Prome Hall which was adjacent to Leik Khone, only separated by a fence. He was an avid poet (pen name Kay-tu Win Tint, from Taunggoo) and I used to visit his room at Prome Hall to talk about poems and literature during lunch or break times. I also met one senior (can’t recall his name, I think Ko Sein Hlaing) who was the Secretary of the Students’ Union. After some lively discussions, we decided to issue an Engineering Students’ Union Annual Magazine and they made me the Chief Editor. The Magazine consisted of two sections, Burmese and English, of which Saya U Aung Khin (Mech) was the English Editor.
I still have the 1960-61 issue neatly tucked in a cupboard in Yangon.
Now I remember that Ko Sein Hlaing (EE?) is still in Yangon, helping to look after his grand children, but not in good health. Ko Sein Hlaing’s daughter was my daughter’s very close friend since their childhood days. We met once in Singapore about 12 years back.
Dear Ko Hla Min, this is the time to reminisce and be happy about the good old days and try to fly back with whatever time machine we could get hold of. Time really flies and we should realize that our days are numbered.
Publications
Saya published “Collection of Poems” : some books by himself (e.g. Pearl in My Heart) and some with collaborators (e.g. Swel Daw Poems).
He also published a collection of articles (e.g. Sea of Men & selected articles)
During one of my visits to Rangoon, he gave me an autographed copy of his book.
Autographed copyCoverMusings by Tekkatho Moe War and Maung Sein Win (Padeegone)
Kyaw Win offered birthday soon kyway to Uzin Okkantha (Victor, Aung Chaw) and treated his former SPHS63 classmates (some of whom have not seen each other for a long time). The attendees include :
Aye Ngwe (Edwin, GBNF)
Kyaw Win (“Birthday Boy”)
Khin Maung Bo (Alan Saw Maung, EP69, GBNF)
Hla Min (EC69)
Uzin Okkantha (Aung Chaw, Victor, C69, GBNF)
Than Win (M69)
Aung Kyi (Arthur Kyi, GBNF)
Tin Tun (M69, GBNF)
Khin Maung Zaw (Frank Gale, IM1 70, UK)
SPHS Novice Crew at RUBC
Maung Maung Kyi (Bow)
Hla Min (No. 2)
Kyaw Win (No. 3, EE)
Willie Soe Mg (Stroke)
Myint Thein (Cox, SPHS 62, B.Com 66)
We were all awarded Full Green.
When the schools were closed following the first Anniversary of 7th July, Kyaw Win and Maung Maung Kyi applied for scholarships to study in Germany.
Maung Maung Kyi received Dip Ing in ChE with Specislization in Pulp and Paper. He worked at Sittaung Paper Mill and PPIC before moving to Wales, UK.
Kyaw Win had a higher calling. He and his friends protested in front of the Burmese Embassy. The higher authorities were alarmed at their movement and recalled back to Burma. Fortunately, he was able to complete his EE in Rangoon.
GBNF
Willie Soe Maung was from the first batch of BDS. He passed away quite early.
Myint Thein passed away after having medical problems for a long time.
Attended PPBRS (Private Primary Boundary Road School) from Infant / KG to Third Standard.
Attended SPHS (St. Paul’s High School) from Std. IV to Std. X
Matriculated from SPHS in 1963. Stood 7th in Burma and won Collegiate Scholarship.
Attended I. Sc (A) at Leik Khone — then Intermediate College of Rangoon University. Stood 1st among students taking Pure Science Option.
Admitted as Top Student to the first ever 2nd BE in November 1964.
Studied five years at RIT from 1964 to 1969
Graduated with B.E (EC) in 1969
Have spent 27 years (from 1999) paying back to my alma mater & my mentors
Thanks to my family members for their support.
1963
SPHS63
Received award given by SPHS for passing Matriculation (7th in Burma) Won Collegiate Scholarship
7th in Matriculation examination of 1963
Attended the last ever I.Sc.(A) at Leik Khone
Senior Novices Runner-up at RUBC Monsoon Regatta with Willie Soe Maung (Stroke, GBNF), Kyaw Wynn (3), Maung Maung Kyi (Bow, GBNF) & Myint Thein (Cox, GBNF)
Attended RUBC 40th Anniversary Dinner hosted by Sithu U Tin (President, GBNF) at Kandawgyi
Received Full Green
1964 – 1969
Admitted to the first ever 2nd BE in November 1964 as the Top Student
2nd BE
Selected RIT Luyechun in the Summer of 1965 and attended the LYC Camp at Inlay Khaung Daing.
Luyechun
Joint Secretary, Secretary & Magazine Committee, RIT EE Association
RIT EE
Treasurer and Vice Captain, RUBC
Editor, Newsletter published by RIT English Association
Started free lance writing (article, poem, translation …)
My poem “Men on the Moon” was published in the Guardian in July 1969
Poem
1970 – 1998
Generation Zero member of UCC (Universities’ Comouter Center)
Hardware & Software Engineer
Senior Systems Programmer
Manager, Business Applications
UCC
Senior Lecturer, Computer Science, DCS (Department of Computer Science)
Associate Professor, Software Technology, ICST (Institute of Computer Science and Technology)
Worked for several high tech companies in Silicon Valley
1999
NewsletterChief Editor, RIT Alumni Newsletter
Started “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”
It started with the news and photos of some gatherings back in Burma. (a) 30th Anniversary of the Graduation of the Class of 69 [reported by Ko Daniel Tint Lwin and Ma Saw Yu Tint (Alice). (b) Mini-gathering with Sayagyi Dr. Aung Gyi and other sayas and senior alumni (reported by Saya U Soe Paing)
2000
SPZP-2000
SPZP-2000 First RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in San Francisco, USA Core Organizer
Content Provider & Editor for the First RIT Web Site designed and implemented y KMZ / Khin Maung Zaw (EC76)
Special Web Pages for SPZP-2000
Commemorative Issue of the Newsletter for SPZP-2000 Chief Editor) Composed “SAYA PUZAW PWE” poem
64 Countdown to the Reunion posts
36 Post-Reunion posts
2002
SPZP-2002 Second RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” by Saya U Moe Aung and team Reprinted my “SAYA PUZAW PWE” poem as Back Cover
2004
SPZP-2004 Third RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
Mild earthquake did not rattle the attendees
2007
SPZP-2007 Fourth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” by Saya U Moe Aung and team Contributed a poem “SWE DAW YEIK”
2010
SPZP-2010 Fifth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Singapore
Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Sar Saung” by Saya U Moe Aung and team Contributed an article “Sad and short clip — EE sayas”
2012
SPZP-2012 Sixth RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon Traveled twice (in March and December) to help with the SPZP
True “Home Coming” in the Gyogone Campus
With Steeve Kay (Multiple Golden Sponsor of SPZPs)
Special publication : History of University Engineering Education in Burma/Myanmar by Saya U Aung Hla Tun and team. Ko Ohn Khine (M70) and I prepared the supplemental CD for the book.
Special publication: Selected RIT Cartoons
Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” by U Saw Lin and team
Commemorative Issue of “Swel Daw Yeik Magazine” by Saya U Moe Aung and team; I wrote an article “Recollections of a 69er”
Memories of a 69er (published in Swel Daw Yeik Magazine in 2014)
Paved Shwe YaDu lane and set up Swel Daw Yeik benches
Translated Saya U Moe Aung’s Shwe YaDu poem
2016
RIT/YIT/YTU Alumni Association Life Member
SPZP-2016 Seventh RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP in Yangon
10000+ attendees
Free food and fun (all day and all night long)
Platinum Jubilee for the Class of 69 Hosted by some 69ers for their friends (in their sunset)
Alumni Appreciation Award (received for the second time)
Soonkway at Half Moon Bay Monastery (organized by U Maurice Chee) Received Alumni Appreciation Award from alumni worldwide
Annual Dinner by Northern California RIT Alumni Association Received plaque signed by Saya U Myat Htoo (Chair, BOD), U Kaung Kaung Oo (Gordon, President), and U Thaung Nyunt (Secretary)
Alumni Appreciation Award(received for the third time)
Attended SPZP-2016 and Platinum Jubilee of the Class of 69
SPZP-2016
2017
Attended Post-SPZP2016 Gatherings
Award Distinguished Toastmaster
DTM
2018
Memories of UCC 40+ posts
Trivia : 1000+ posts (on going) Several readers said that the posts are more than Trivia
Archived newsletters and posts in my website hlamin.com
2019
Panelist, 5th Irrawaddy Literary Festival
ILF
Golden Jubilee, RIT 69ers
GJ
Attended several gatherings and Acariya Pu Zaw Pwes
2020
Invited to join the PSA 2020 Tour to Upper Burma
Broadcast Short talks (Videos) Archived in Facebook and Youtube
Moderator & Contributor RU Centennial Facebook Group
YouTube Channel
2021 – 2023
Due to pandemic, outdoor activities were put on hold
Overseas travel required certificate of Covid vaccine
Revise articles
Write new articles
Short Trips to Singapore, Thailand & Laos
Shared Memories of PPBRS, SPHS, RIT and UCC
Posted new and revised articles in my web site hlamin.com
My educational videos can be accessed from YouTube. Search for @hmin3664
2024 – present
In 2024, we celebrated (a) Centennial of Engineering Education in Burma / Myanmar (b) 60th Anniversary of RIT (c) Silver Jubilee of RIT Alumni Newsletter
Still practicing as Lifelong Learner and Knowledge Sharer
U Shwe Kyaw (BIT Volleyball Selected)Daw Khin Toe Myint
Graduated in 1963 with Mechanical Engineering
He and U Aye (M62) played together in Ramanya Hall volleyball team during 1959-60 season.
Represented BIT and RU in Volleyball (along with U Aye M62)
Joined the Air Force and became a Pilot.
He was Air Force Captain (Officiating Major) when he perished in a plane crash.
Survived by Sayama Daw Khin Toe Myint (Zoology) and two children. Sayama is a dhamma friend. Her son U Thet Win Kyaw played the Drums at SPZP-2000.
U Shwe Zan Aung (SPHS63)
Std VIII B in SPHS
Matriculated from SPHS in 1963
Joined the Army and went to the front several times
His grandfather was afraid of losing another grandson prematurely. He requested SZA to leave the army and promised to provide financial support in exchange for peace of mind. His grandfather supported SZA’s family for a long time.
Finally joined a ship as a radio operator
Perished at sea when the ship sunk
Dr. Shwe Tun Kyaw
He and his spouse took early retirement from their medical practice in UK.
They volunteered as Assistant Teachers in several bi-lingual (Burmese and English) Goenka Center retreats.
He is a classmate of my younger sister. I met him at the house of Audrey Wong (C84), a volunteer for the Northern California Goenka Center.
Brother Anthony (Class teacher) : taught Mathematics
Saya U Sein (Burmese teacher, GBNF) : Father of Saya Dr. Soe Win (retired Rector of YUFL); Also taught Burmese in Matric.
Brother Felix (Brother Director, GBNF) : After nationalization, moved to Germany and passed away there. Thonegwa Kyaw Win visited him.
Saya U Nyunt Maung (Arts subjects teacher) : Taught Maths in Sacred Heart
SayaBeatson(Science subjects teacher) : Became a monk. He is now GBBF
Brother Xavier (English teacher) : Also taught English in 9th standard. After nationalization, moved to UK and presumably left the Order.
Teachers for Other Classes
Ms. A Benjamin was our Class Teacher in Std. IV(D). I do not remember the name of the teacher who taught Burmese.
Mrs. Violet Boudville was our Class Teacher in Std. V(D). Saya Pe Tin was the Subject Teacher.
Saya Pe Tin was our Class Teacher in Std. VI(D). Bro Anthony and Ms. Amelia Kyi / Miss Hong Kong were Subject Teachers.
Saya Nge was our Class Teacher in Std. VII(D). Miss Hong Kong was the Subject Teacher.
Bro Anthony was our Class Teacher in Std. VIII(A). Bro Xavier, Saya Sein, Saya Nyunt Maung and Saya Beatson were Subject Teachers.
Bro Xavier was our Class Teacher in Std. IX(A). Saya Sein, Saya D’Cruz and Saya Beatson were Subject Teachers.
Bro Austin was our Class Teacher in Std. X(A). Bro Clementian, Saya Sein, Saya D’Cruz and Saya Beatson were Subject Teachers.
There were several Relieving Teachers.
We had to take History and Geography in High School for some time (although we chose the Pure Science Option of Maths, Physics and Chemistry).
Classmates
Dr. Khin Maung U
OPA DinnerKhin Maung U
First in Burma in the Matric exam in 1963; Won Collegiate Scholarship
Had perfect scores of 100 in Maths & Chemistry and a score of 99 in Physics. Grapevine says that one point was deducted from the initial score.
Multiple Luyechun at IM(1)
Due to changes in the Edu System, he had to do M.Sc. (Med Sc) locally. Top students from earlier years studied in UK as State Scholars.
His persistence paid off. Got Fellowships from UK and MD from Australia
Retired from Food & Drug Administration in the USA
Translator/interpreter for dhamma courses & meditation retreats.
Wore thick glasses since his younger days.
Classmate in Stds VIII(A), IX(A) and X(A). We were in different sections in the lower classes.
Dr. Min Oo (Kenneth)
Stood second in Burma in the Matric exam in 1963. Won Collegiate Scholarsip.
Some saw him reading a German book before entering the hall to take the Matric exam.
Scored distinctions in English, Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
Chose to study Maths at RASU.
Saya U Aung Sein (Maths) saw Min Oo get out of the Tutorial classes after a few minutes and yet had perfect score. He decided to give challenging questions for a Tutorial. Min Oo took longer time than the easier Tutorials, but most of the other students could not get a passing grade.
A Tuition Saya (now GBNF) challenged his students. “Ask your teachers to solve the problem. I will give you free tuition if you can provide the correct answer.” One student asked Min Oo, who was enjoying a card game. Min Oo scribbled the answer during the card game. The Tuition Saya was disappointed. He did not keep his promise to give the student free tuition.
Attended Tekkatho Luyechun Camps twice.
Min Oo (Seated Right)
In the Summer of 1965, he was chosen as Luyechun among second year RASU students.
In the Summer of 1968, he was chosen as a Saya for the Tekkatho Luyechun camp.
As a multiple Tekkatho Luyechun from IM(1), Dr. Khin Maung U was present at both camps. He remembers Min Oo with a cigar trying to look like a Sayagyi.
Min Oo received two doctorates in Maths from Germany. He taught at McMasters University in Canada. He voluntarily retired in 2015.
He was one of the young students in the class, but also among the brightest.
We were Classmates in Stds VIII(A), IX(A) & X(A). We were in different sections in the lower classes.
We had a Reunion during one of his visits to the San Francisco Bay Area (where his daughter works).
Dr. Myo San (Freddie, GBNF)
Khin Mg Zaw, Myo San, Khin Mg U
Stood third in Burma in the Matric of 1963. Won Collegiate Scholarship.
He had studied phonetics. He had read lots of English books.
He scored distinctions in English, Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
He was older than us. That might have given him a slight advantage in the early years.
He gave me a quiz. “How do you pronounce GHOTI?” I gave an answer which he corrected as “FISH”. He had read George Bernard Shaw, who posed the quiz as an example of eccentricity in English. GH is phonetically equivalent to F as in ROUGH. O is phonetically equivalent to I as in WOMAN. TI is phonetically equivalent to SH as in ATTENTION. Thus, GHOTI is phonetically equivalent to FISH.
He became a surgeon, but the stress caused him to take early retirement.
Sadly, he passed away.
We were Classmates in Stds VIII(A), IX(A) & X(A). We were in different sections in the lower classes.
Priests and Monks
Anthony Lourdes : Priest
Aung Chaw / Victor (GBNF) : Monk
Bernard Taylor : Priest
Edwin David (GBNF) : Priest
Phillip Ba Maung (GBNF) : Monk
Ashin Ukkamsa / Aung Chaw (GBNF)
Collegiate Scholarship Holders
In 1963, students from private schools had to be in the Top Forty to be eligible for Collegiate Scholarship.
Dr. Nyunt Wai wrote : I’m no painter or a poet. Just occasional excursions to these fields. And I’m not a visiting Professor. Had to apply for this job in Malaysia just like any other expatriate from India or Bangladesh. So I’m no 3 “P”s. This reminds me of “No 3 P policy” of the now extinct Yahoo group Alumni-Myanmar-medical-institutes founded by Saya Johnny Thane Oke Kyaw-Myint, which served well as a lively forum for us until the advent of Facebook.
Dr. Thane Oke Kyaw Myint wrote : Yes AMIM was a tight small group of us. Those who became friends then remain now as close friends. On FB, there is short attention as well as being bombarded by posts that we have no interest in.
Aging & declining health had a toll on him and his spouse
Had diabetes for a long time without control / treatment.
His kidney began to fail around October 2010. Doctors recommended preparation for dialysis, which is minor operation on his vein / arteries on his hand, but he wanted to try alternative medicine.
UCC alumni set up a health care fund to help him, but he was either “Arr Nar De အားနာတယ်” or frail to do dialysis.
He lost memory and could not recognize his former colleagues.
His wife had limited mobility on her left hand. People in Yangon wanted her to go for therapy but it was not easy for them to visit therapists on their own.
U Kyaw Nyein (AFPFL)
U Kyaw Nyein
Minister, Home Affairs
Leader of Swe-Nyein Faction
Stable AFPFL (တည်မြဲ ဖဆပလ)
U Kyaw Nyein (BSPP)
Minister, Education
U Kyaw Nyein (USIS)
Invited us to use the USIS library
Third son of Myoma Sayagyi U Ba Lwin
U Kyaw Nyein (Franklin)
Younger brother of U Wah Kyu (Maurice’s father) & Saya U Win Kyaing
