Abstract:

Modernization efforts in education, which were initiated in the 19th century, can be seen as forerunners of the modernization attempts in the Republic period. In this article, Greek education system in the Ottoman Empire will be discussed and the eff ects and importance of the changes observed in Greek girls' education in 19th and 20th centuries on the modernization period of the Ottoman Empire will be emphasized. Greek girls' education system is examined in terms of the schools in Istanbul. In the secular Greek education system, education of girls was considered highly important. The underlying reasons were the social change emerging in Europe and the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, recognition of the importance of women in the said change and the need to train teachers for schools that were increasing in number every day. The courses taught and methods used in Greek girls' schools played a major role in the reproduction of Greek nationalism by means of education. State authorities that closely watched these developments perceived them as a threat against their political existence, as a result of which inspection on these schools were increased; however, some of these models were also adopted for modern Ottoman education. Furthermore, increase in number of these schools caused competition, which accelerated the opening of Muslim schools. Innovations and developments in the Greek girls' education are significant in perceiving and evaluating the Ottoman education system as a whole. As a matter of fact, this period, which lasted throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, presents us with important clues, which will help us in understanding the education system of today.

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