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วารสารราชบััณฑิิตยสภา
ปีีที่่� ๔๗ ฉบัับัที่่� ๓ กัันยายน–ธัันวาคม ๒๕๖๕
138 ประวััติิควัามเป็นมาของคำาวั่า “วัิทยาศาสติร์”

Abstract: History of the word “Witthayasastra” (Science)
Professor Dr. Sanya Sukpanichnant
Associate Fellow of the Academy of Science,
The Royal Society of Thailand
The word “Witthayasastra” (Science) was included with the other 700
scientific words in the announcement of the Prime Minister’s Office on “Coinage
issue no. 2” published in the government gazette in 1943. Upon being tracked
back, the word “Witthayasastra” appeared officially in the course designed by

the Department of Education (Ministry of Education at present) in 1914. And
before that, the course was named “Sastra” (with the details for teaching science
at present) in the course designed by Thammakarn Ministry (Ministry of Education
at present) in 1895 and later the course was named “Witthaya” (Science) in the
Education Plan in 1898. This plan was announced to be in action by the
Department of Education on May 2, 1913. The announcement and details of
the whole education plan including courses for the 8 levels (Matthayomsuksa

or MS1 to MS8, divided into junior school level for MS1 to MS3, middle school
level for MS4 to MS6, and high school level for MS7 to MS8) were published in
the Bangkok Daily Mail newspaper from May 17 to June 3 in 1913. The course for
teaching science was named “Witthaya” in this newspaper but it was mistyped
as “Witthayasastra” when appeared after the course “Bhumisastra” (Geography)
in the course of high school level for girls published on May 31, 1913 solely.
Moreover, there are books and articles about science using other terms with
the same meaning as the word “science” such as scientific articles named
“Witthayanubhap” (power of science) published in the special issue of

Wachirayan book in 1889 and the book entitled “Nangsue Sadaeng Kitchanukit”
(A book on various things) written by Chaophraya Thiphakorawong (Kham
Bunnag) for teaching science to Thai children in 1868. This particular book
could be regarded as the first scientific book for children in Thailand.

Keywords: coinage of the word science (witthayasastra), wicha sastra, wicha
witthaya, witthayanubhap, nangsue sadaeng kitchanukit (a book
on various things)