TÜRK EĞİTİM TARİHİNDE MEKTEB-İ SULTANİ

Mekteb-i Sultani in Turkish Education History

Abstract

In the aftermath of the Tanzimat Era, a series of reforms were initiated in the Ottoman Empire based on Western models, leading to the establishment of new institutions. In pursuit of aligning with the developmental standards of Europe, the Empire undertook initiatives to design a coherent and far-reaching educational framework characterized by modernity and systematic organization. However, the Empire’s delay in the implementation of these reform programs brought forth substantial challenges in the modernization process and created a ground upon which European powers were able to advance various proposals. In this process, institutional innovations were carried out for the development of the Turkish educational system, and within this framework, the establishment of the Mekteb-i Sultani was decided. After the proclamation of the Republic, the Mekteb-i Sultani, which was renamed Galatasaray High School, preserved the cultural structure of its foundation period and has continued its existence up to the present with an Atatürkist intellectual orientation.The school has educated numerous prominent figures who later served in various ranks of the state.Established with the aim of bringing together diverse communities under the principle of Ottomanism, the institution has, in this regard, served as an exemplary model internationally. This study addresses both the general state of education from the foundation of the Mekteb-i Sultani to the Republican era and the school’s role and significance within the history of Turkish education. The findings demonstrate that Galatasaray High School made substantial contributions not only to the institutionalization and dissemination of modern education in the country, but also to the advancement of foreign language instruction and cultural integration in Turkey.