Iranian Schools Opened in the Ottoman Period and the Education of Iranians: 1883-1912

Abstract

With developing Ottoman-Iran relations and opening of diplomatic representations, since the second half of the 19^th century, two states got closer in many respects. Evaluating this situation, the Iranian merchants’ commercial activities in the provinces of the Ottoman Empire, especially in Istanbul, and the publishing activities of Iranian intellectuals in Istanbul increased Iranian population in the Ottoman Empire. Iranian merchants and intellectuals who migrated to the Ottoman lands with their families, required schools for their children’s education. With government permission, this group opened schools in foreign school status in Istanbul in 1883 and 1912, in Trabzon in 1885, in Kazımiye in 1909 and in Karbala in 1912, largely with their own means and with Iran’s support. Besides, although the opening year is not certain, an Iranian school operating in İzmir was known. Iranians, graduated from the aforementioned schools, applied to state-owned schools and received education at secondary, high school and higher levels, since there was no Iranian school in the Ottoman Empire to continue their education at upper levels. Later, Iranians, not living in Ottoman lands but wanted to receive education were added. Iranians, completing education were employed in various Ottoman institutions according to their profession. Some returned to their country and worked there. This study aims to reveal the schools opened by the Iranians in the Ottoman Empire in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, their administrative structures, educational activities and in which schools the Iranians studying in the Ottoman were educated.