History of Turkish Education System By Aslı Aysan Period: 552 to 745 Göktürks' Orhun Monuments /38-Letter Turkish Runic Alphabet Period: 745 to 950 Uygurs' New alphabet / 14 Letter "Sogd" 1040 Seljuk Madrasa was founded in Nishapur, and several Nizamia Madrasa were founded 1069 Kutadgu Bilig (“Ethics of Happiness”) by Yusuf Has Hajib was written Period: 1072 to 1074 Divan-ü Lugat-it Türk (“Cyclopaedic Dictionary of Turkish Languages”) by Mahmut of Kashgar was written 1277 It was decreed that Turkish shall be the official language of the Court 1453 Fatih Kulliya was built (İstanbul University) Period: 1455 to 1909 The Palace or Enderun -unique instution of education- was innovated 1727 First printing press was introduced and operated by İbrahim Müteferrika 1773 Mühendishane-I Bahri-I Hümayun (“Home of Geometricians”) was inaugurated 1793 First Military School Of Engineering was opened Period: 1805 to 1812 Medical School by The Greek Community of Istanbul 1827 The first State School of Medicine and Urban Surgery was opened 1834 The School of Military Sciences was establised 1846 The Ministry of General Schools founded 1848 First Teacher Training School was opened 1857 The first School of Agriculture and the first School of Forestry opened 1859 School of Public Administration was opened 1863 Darushafaka was established 1864 Boarding schools for delinquent children was opened by Mithat Pasha 1864 New vocational institutions for girls were established 1867 Civilian School of Medicine was established 1874 The School of Mining was opened 1880 First School of Law was established 1883 Educational tax was introduced 1891 Teacher Schools for elementary and secondary levels were incorporated as a Teacher Training College 1911 First Girls’ İdadiya was opened 1919 The ordinance for the first Ottoman University was published 1924 Unification of Education Law 1925 All mystic or esoteric assocations and shrine of any religious affiliation (like tekke, zaviye and türbe) were closed 1928 Latin aphabet was adapted and accepted Jul 12, 1932 The Turkish Language Association was founded 1934 The use of all honorific and titular titles, Islamic or otherwise, was outlawed 1939 First Convention of National Education was held in Ankara Apr 17, 1940 The Village Institutes was opened 1950 Religious courses were included in the school curricula 1951 Imam Hatip schools were revived as 7 year institutions 1954 Village Institues were incorporated to the Primary Teachers Schools 1959 Higher Islamic institutes were established 1971 Imam Hatip schools were converted to three-year vocational lycees, above the 3-year middle schools Oct 20, 1984 Bilkent University, the first private university of Turkey, was established 1997 Compulsory education was increased from 5 years to 8 years 2005 Secondary education was increased from 3 years to 4 years 2012 4+4+4, 12 years compulsory education