Girls' Industrial Schools

1. International Ordu Scientific Research Congress, Ordu, Türkiye, 13 - 14 Nisan 2026, ss.342, (Özet Bildiri)

GIRLS’ INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS

Girls' Industrial School was first opened in Yedikule. The course, which provided arts

education based on manual skills for young women, was a qualified school. It has also been

referred to as the “İnas Industrial Schools”. At the suggestion of Midhat Pasha, the first

industrial school for orphaned girls was opened in Yedikule in 1869.

Fifty female students were initially admitted to the Girls’ Industrial School. These

students were sewing uniforms for the Tophane-i Âmire. In addition, these girls were being

taught to read and write at school. In the years that followed, the Ministry of Education also

opened new girls’ schools in Üsküdar in 1878, and in Aksaray and Cağaloğlu in 1879. These

schools were boarding schools and offered programmes that placed greater emphasis on

literacy. A five-year curriculum had been drawn up for the Girls’ Industrial Schools. Under

this programme, in Year 1: the alphabet, Kuran-ı Kerim, sewing and knitting; In Year 2:

akaid-i diniye, ethics, writing, embroidery, needlework, art; In Year 3: Abridged Ottoman

Grammar, Spelling, Abridged Arithmetic, Handwriting, Composition, Drawing; In year 4:

abridged history and geography, practical knowledge, writing and composition, flower

arranging, various forms and sewing; In Year 5, lessons were taught in home economics,

hygiene, sewing and various forms of art. In addition, the curriculum included instruction in

Istanbul handicrafts, and in the final years, piano and Ottoman classical music. Admission to

these schools was conditional upon the girls being orphans or from poor families. All the

pupils’ needs were met by the schools.

In 1900, the Girls’ Industrial School had 180 pupils, 86 of whom were boarders and 94

day pupils. In 1913, subjects such as arithmetic, French, music, religious studies, Turkish,

bookkeeping, calligraphy, physical education, repair work and laundry were also introduced

into the curriculum of Girls’ Industrial Schools. In the years following the proclamation of the

Republic, girls’ institutes were later renamed girls’ vocational secondary schools.