Early Republican Period educational buildings in Nevşehir city center (1923-1945)

The transition from a uniform system to a progressive system is one of the steps taken towards modernization in the field of education. This progressive system is significant in terms of determining individuals' educational levels. It provides an opportunity for classifying society and offers individuals the chance to enhance their skills at advanced education levels. So, what is this progressive system? Initially, children who reach the age of schooling receive primary education, followed by intermediate education and high school, based on a preference for a Western-style education model. Due to the high number of children attending school, additional buildings are preferred, and in some centers, separate buildings are constructed to accommodate both primary and intermediate schools. With the spread of education after the establishment of the Republic, it is possible to evaluate the dissemination of this ideology from the center to the outskirts throughout Anatolia, and specifically assess the new school institutions in Nevşehir. Under the Ministry of Education, specific standardized projects have been developed for the construction of these buildings, taking into account traditional building materials and involving both local and foreign architects in the Construction Department. These projects have served as a basis for the construction of buildings nationwide. The significance of these institutions, which have survived as a legacy of the Early Republican Period, lies in their establishment and construction processes, which have been supported by local communities in their efforts to promote education. In this study, a total of 10 educational structures that were constructed between 1923 and 1945, covering the Early Republican period in Nevşehir city center, and have managed to endure until the present day, have been identified. The dating, planning, and facade arrangements of these structures have been examined. Consequently, many of these existing schools have been left unused, abandoned, or repurposed as storage facilities due to the construction of new school buildings elsewhere. Keywords: Nevşehir, Education İnstitution, School Buildings, Early Republican Period