Education in the Thrace Region according to the 1935 Reports of the General Inspectorate of Thrace

Authors : Neslihan Bolat Bozaslan

Pages : 120-132

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Publication Date : 2025-12-07

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :With the Industrial Revolution, the demand for educated and skilled labor increased, paving the way for the expansion of educational institutions. Over time, many European states made formal education compulsory in response to this need. In the Ottoman Empire, however, attention during the same period was primarily directed toward military education. During the reign of Mahmud II, Sıbyan schools were established and compulsory education was introduced. Although efforts to expand education continued in subsequent periods, the desired outcomes could not be achieved. The Second Constitutional Era, in particular, witnessed accelerated initiatives aimed at increasing the number of schools. Nevertheless, the cycle of warfare beginning with the Italo-Turkish War redirected state expenditures largely toward military needs, thereby limiting progress in the field of education. Following these prolonged wars, the newly founded Republic of Turkey prioritized educational reform. In this context, the Congress of Education (Maarif Kongresi), convened in Ankara between 15 and 21 July 1921, identified the needs of the Turkish education system. A nationwide educational mobilization was launched, and various legal arrangements were enacted to expand education from rural to urban areas. Schools and village reading rooms were constructed in rural settlements, and boarding schools were established for children living in villages without schools. In addition, the opening of “Millet Mektepleri” strengthened non-formal educational activities. Sports clubs were also established in provinces, districts, and villages to introduce the public to various branches of sports. All these efforts were monitored through a meticulous system of inspection, and reports prepared by the General Inspectorates were regularly submitted to the government. This study examines, in the light of archival documents, the reports and correspondence prepared by provincial directorates of education regarding the activities, numbers, and budgets of fee-based or free boarding schools, Millet Mektepleri, village reading rooms, and youth sports associations in the Thrace region, as well as information concerning the students, athletes, and local inhabitants who benefited from these institutions, as requested by the Thrace General Inspectorate.
Keywords : Köy okulları, Millet mektepleri, Okuma yazma seferberliği, Milli eğitim, Trakya Umum Müfettişliği

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