SJK (T) THAMBOOSAMY PILLAI
SENTUL

1964 - 1979

SJK(T) Thamboosamy Pillay Tamil School was founded by philanthropist the late Mr Thamboosamy Pillay and it was established in 1906. It is the oldest Tamil school in Kuala Lumpur. The school had a very chequered history which would have closed the school permanently until theTrustees of the school approached the Ashrama who eventually took over the management of school in 1964. The school served the children of employees of the Malayan Railways. Hence the site was leased for the school by the Ashrama from the Malayan Railways. There were 200 students and 6 teachers. A new building was planned and the foundation was laid by YB Dato VT Sambanthan, the then Minister for Works, Posts and Telecommunications and it was completed in 1964.

(1850-1902)
K. Thamboosamy Pillay

Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam

Y.B Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam, Minister of Labour, officially opened the new building of the Thamboosamy Pillai Tamil School, Sentul, on 15.6.1965. YB Tun V.T. Sambathan, Minister of Transport, had laid the foundation stone of the new building on 28.11.1963. Picture shows Mr V.Suppiah, Chairman, Board of Managers garlanding Tan Sri Manickavasagam.

1980 - 1999

In 1983, school celebrated its 75-year anniversary under the patronage of YB Dato Seri S Samy Vellu, who was the Minister of Telecommunications. YB Dato K Pathmanaban, the then Deputy Minister of Health also attended the function.

The Ashrama planned and carried out the following to improve the school which witnessed increased enrolment :

Religious and Thevaram classes,
Free meals for deserving students.,
Free books, uniforms and bus fares for students who came from economically challenged homes.
From 1998 Kindergarten classes has been conducted with the assistance of the PTA.

The school’s 50th Anniversary Sports was held in 1991. It was opened by Dr K Ampikaipakan, while YB Dato Alex Lee, the guest of honour gave away the prizes.

2000 and beyond

The turn of the century saw TVAKL making great strides in enhancing not only the quality of education in the Vivekananda Schools but also providing excellent facilities for the students. The school Heads included Mr M Subramaniam (1973-77), Mr S Subramaniam (1998 -2002), Ms Thaiayalnayakai(2002-06) and Ms A Margaret Tamil Selvi (2011-18)

The school under its current headmistress ,Puan V Pama (since 2018) is making progress to improve the academic performance and increase the co-curriculum activities at the school.

The Ashrama has initiated classes for the weaker students to enhance reading and writing competencies in Bahasa Malaysia and English. Both these are conducted by external teachers during school hours under ‘Pemulihan Programme’.

On infrastructure, the school is experiencing considerable delay in the handover of the additional school block which has been under construction for about 3 years. The Ashrama and school Management are pursuing the matter with this Authorities.

Despite the fact that this is the smallest school under the patronage of the Ashrama, the academic and the co-curriculum activities continues to improve.