Imperial governance and educational reforms: The darulmuallimat, mobility of female teachers and students in the Ottoman Empire (Late 19th–early 20th century), with special reference to Libya

With the declaration of the Tanzimat Edict (1839), reform movements in education gained momentum in the Ottoman Empire. These reforms aimed to expand educational activities to the empire's remote provinces, leading to the training of new teachers as well as the mobilization of both teachers and students between the center and the periphery. However, the political, social, and economic conditions of the time changed so rapidly that there was little opportunity to assess the outcomes of these reforms and the accompanying educational mobility. The 1869 Maarif-i Umumiye Nizamnamesi (Public Education Code) created a demand for female teachers and led to the establishment of Darülmuallimat (Female Teachers Training College). This resulted in the appointment of female teachers between the center and the provinces, fostering a dynamic and active educational mobilization. However, since some graduates of Darülmuallimat refrained from working in distant provinces, the Leyli (boarding) section of Darülmuallimat was introduced as a practical solution. Female students from the provinces were educated in Istanbul and then returned to their hometowns to begin their teaching careers. This study analyzes the mobilization of female teachers and students in the province of Trablusgarb (present-day Libya) during the post-Tanzimat period, the mobility process triggered by educational reforms, and its lasting effects in the post-Ottoman period. The research findings reveal that the effects of this educational mobility continued after the collapse of the empire and that graduates continued their educational activities in their hometowns. In light of the archival documents analyzed, the structure and consequences of this mobility are evaluated, and a comprehensive analysis is presented, with a particular focus on female teachers and students. This analysis offers a new perspective on understanding the educational mobilization paved by Ottoman educational reforms and their impact at the provincial level, while also emphasizing the role of women in the education field during the late empire. Keywords: Darülmuallimat (Female Teachers Training College), Female Teacher- Student Mobility, Girls' Education, Province of Trablusgarb.