English
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a great reformer and the changes he introduced were in the fields of politics, public life, law, economy and education. Thus, on his initiative, a new Turkish alphabet based on the Latin alphabet was introduced in 1928 and the Turkish language was reformed. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk believed that the new generation would be created by teachers, and he himself was called ‘the first teacher of the republic’.
The Turkish education system has a rich history, from Ottoman madrasas to modern universities. In this article, we will highlight 20 educators and reformers whose ideas and writings have shaped Turkey’s educational landscape.
1. Filiz Meşeci Giorgetti
A researcher at Istanbul University and an expert on the history of education. Her work on the Village Institutes (Köy Enstitüleri) reveals the role of these schools in eradicating illiteracy in the 1940s .
2. Hasan Demeral
A school director from Kayseri known for his tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Organised a pilgrimage to Shanlıurfa with Muslim colleagues and an American Christian teacher, emphasising the unity of the Abrahamic religions .
3. Ismail Haqqi Tonguch
One of the founders of the Village Institutes, unique schools where children were taught agriculture and handicrafts along with academic subjects. These institutes trained thousands of teachers for rural areas .
4. Mehmet Deniz Birlikci
A young educator and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and an artificial intelligence specialist. He founded the ObviousAI project and taught programming, combining technical education with social initiatives.
5. Kübra E.
Certified teacher of Turkish for foreigners. She uses interactive methods to make language learning accessible and fun. Her approach is based on practice and cultural immersion.
6. Dr Yunus Emre
A professional Turkish teacher with 7 years of experience. Developed a methodology that allows students to start speaking Turkish from the first lesson .
7. Ayşe Teacher TÖMER
Teacher with PhD, expert in Turkish dialects. She has worked in universities in Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, combining linguistics with cultural studies.
8. Mustafa Binici
Teacher of Turkish literature and folklore, PhD. Author of methods for accelerated language learning through literature .
9. Tarık Yılmaz (Tarık Yılmaz)
Certified Turkish and English teacher. His lessons focus on conversational practice and cultural context.
10. İsmail Kaplan
DILMER certified teacher, expert in multimedia resources in teaching .
Historical reformers:
11. Mehmet Akif Ersoy – poet and educator, author of the Turkish anthem, promoted national education .
12. Ziya Gökalp – sociologist whose ideas formed the basis of Turkey’s secular educational system.
13. Cemil Mercan – reformer who participated in the creation of modern curricula after the founding of the Republic.
Modern teachers:
14. Seray Çörekçi is an expert in teaching Turkish to children and adults .
15. Birsen Ozbilge – teacher with 15 years of experience, author of grammar and pronunciation methods .
16. Gül – PhD, Turkish language and culture teacher with experience in Berlitz and other international schools .
Founders of the schools:
17. Halide Edib Adıvar – writer and educator, opened schools for girls in the early republican period.
18. Sabri Ulker – businessman who founded educational foundations to support students.
Experts in online education:
19. Can – author of Turkish textbooks for levels A1-A2, uses dialogues and audio .
20. Aylin Mercan – cross-cultural communication specialist, combines language and cultural traditions in teaching .
Conclusion
Turkish educators combine tradition and innovation, from village institutions to digital platforms. Their contributions encompass not only academic knowledge but also social transformation, making education an instrument of unity and progress.
