sempozyum_bildiri_kitabi

He told Kemal Efendi,
‐‐ I give them into your hands for education; I request you treat [my children] equally
with other pupils... 9 .
This example alone is good enough to demonstrate ‘the will’ to ‘formally’ educate girls
throughout the Ottoman Empire.
Kız (İnas) mektebi (girls’ school)
From the beginning of the Tanzimat period, the Ottoman governments expressed interest in the
girls’ education. The councils that were formed to work on improving the standards of public
education made strong recommendations on female education and stated that educated mothers
would better raise their children.
In June 1862 (Zilhicce 1278 A.H.), a school, designated especially for girls, was opened in the
Sultan Ahmed district of Istanbul. The Takvim‐i Vekayi newspaper announced the opening of this
unique school 10 . The newspaper emphasized that by direct orders of the Sultan, many public schools
were opening in Istanbul, Bilad‐i Selase (the suburbs of Üsküdar, Galata, and Eyüp) and other places
in the Empire:
Public education is the main source of the country’s development. It is obvious that taking care of
the means that appear to be positive for public education is going to be the resource for progress. As
part of the benevolent work of the Sultan, Rüshdiye schools have been opened all around the
country. In these Rüshdiye schools, children receive education and it is certain that they are given
adequate information; this was done, however, to eradicate the ‘ignorance of the subjects’.
Although, official schools that have been opened so far were especially for male children, seeking
knowledge is an obligation and binding duty for males and females.
The newspaper also stressed that
Because educating females would lead them to know their religion better, become contented and
preserve their chastity, it is necessary for their father and mothers to look after girls’ education.
A school building was reserved at the At Meydani (Hippodrome) in the Sultanahmed district of
Istanbul especially for girls’ education. All schoolteachers were to be approved by the government,
and they would teach according to the new methodology known as usul‐i cedid. The newspaper
urged parents again to send their girls to this school.
“Inas Mektebi” was not the only school available to educate girls. In 1864, first crafts training was
given to girls in a school called the Islahhane that was opened by Midhat Pasha in Rusçuk. In 1869, a
Girls’ Crafts School (Kiz Sanayi Mektebi) was opened in the Yedikule district of Istanbul. According to
the state yearbook (Devlet Salnamesi) dated 1294 A.H./1877, there were 157 registered female
students at the school 11 .
In addition, Cevad informs us that, in April/May 1869 (Muharrem 1286 A.H.), 31 Rüshdiye schools
(for boys) were opened in various provinces in the Ottoman Empire and in the following month
(Safer 1286 A.H.‐May/June 1869), the Council of Education decided to open seven Rüshdiye schools
for girls (inas rüshdiyesi) in Istanbul 12 .
Maarif‐i Umumiye Nizamnamesi (Public Education Code)
Most significant development in history of public education in the Ottoman Empire is
announcement of the Public Education Code in 1869. The Code was an extensive document and
reorganized public education with all aspects. The first section (fasl‐i evvel) set detailed regulations
concerning primary schools for boys (Mekatib‐i Sibyaniye) and girls (Kiz Sibyan Mektebleri). Girls’
education remained as a high priority in the agenda of Ottoman administrators Article Three set
highly ambitious though rather economically unfeasible targets: