The Place and Importance of the Maarif Colleges in Turkish Education System

Abstract

In addition to the socio-economic change and industrialization experienced in Turkey in the 1950's, the course of the country's international relations increased the need for foreign language-speaking personnel. Some of the decisive reasons for the Ministry of National Education for opening the Maarif Colleges include the fact that foreign language education in secondary education institutions was not adequately efficient and the schools that teach foreign languages were inadequate in number and were located in certain centers. The Maarif Colleges, established in 1955, were public schools with paid boarding facilities that provided education in Turkish and English languages. In the first stage, the Maarif Colleges were opened in Istanbul, Izmir, Samsun, Konya, Eskişehir and Diyarbakır. Turkey's membership in NATO and its close ties with the United States after the Second World War also played an important role in the establishment and operation of the colleges. The Maarif Colleges became attractive educational institutions in a short period since they provided education in foreign language and generally high-quality education in other fields. The number of Anatolian High school built on the Maarif College experience has gradually increased over time and these schools have become the most common type of school in secondary education.