Girls' education in the Ottoman Empire and the women teachers influencing the period (1850-1918)

The main purpose of this study is; to explain how the education of girls, which was ignored for a long time in the Ottoman Empire, was handled between 1850 and 1918, and the women teachers who grew up in the 19th century, and the contributions of these teachers to Ottoman educational life and social life. For the study, the subject was researched from the main sources and the necessary documents were scanned through the Presidential Ottoman Archive and Islamic Research Center (ISAM) database. Apart from these, independent studies and articles on the subject were examined. Until the 19th century, the educational history of the Ottoman Empire was subject to a limited examination with the institutions where boys could receive education. Because any institution other than the Sıbyan School (Ottoman primary school) was not open to the girls. The first step was taken with the girls' junior high school (Ottoman secondary school) opened in 1859 in terms of girls' education, and this process continued with the opening of the girls' high schools. Since there were no female teachers to give education in the schools opened for girls, Darülmuallimat was opened, so that women took the first step towards becoming teachers. In the following periods, when the need for women teachers increased, different schools were opened to train women teachers. Finally, in the Second Constitutional Period, a way was opened to women for the university. Women teachers have been guiding the girls who have a presence in the field of education. The Ottoman Empire's efforts to modernize in many areas during the Tanzimat Period changed the perception of women in society, which made girls visible in the field of education. The presence of female teachers has made girls feel more intensely in education, both in terms of quality and quantity. The efforts of women teachers were effective in increasing the enrollment rate of girls, but the number of female students in the Ottoman education and training system remained below the desired level and a sufficient number could not be reached. Keywords: Darülmuallimat, Inas, Female Teacher, Girls' Education, School, Muallime