Pertevniyal Lisesi

Pertevniyal Lisesi. A beacon of learning, a testament to a mother’s love, and a stage for Turkey’s future. Pertevniyal Lisesi stands proudly in Istanbul’s Fatih district. It whispers stories of ambition and resilience. Pertevniyal Valide Sultan, wife of Sultan Mahmud II and mother of Sultan Abdülaziz, envisioned more than just a mosque in her name. She yearned for a school, a place where young minds could flourish. Thus, in 1872, beside the Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque, the Mahmudiye Mektebi was born. Pertevniyal Lisesi wasn’t always the grand structure you see today. The original building, a modest two-story structure with eight rooms, cost 3530 gold coins and took two years to complete. It housed both a primary school (Sıbyan Mektebi) and a secondary school (Rüştiye). Imagine young boys reciting the Quran, mastering calligraphy, and delving into mathematics and science. This dedication to education stemmed from Pertevniyal Valide Sultan herself. She ensured that each student received 120 kuruş annually for clothing, making the school highly sought after. Tragedy struck in 1911. A devastating fire swept through Aksaray, reducing the original Pertevniyal Lisesi building to ashes. The school relocated to a nearby mansion, continuing its mission under the name Mahmudiye Rüştiyesi. Resilience, however, is etched into Pertevniyal Lisesi’s DNA. In 1930, trustee Osman Bey spearheaded the construction of a new building, the southern part of the current structure, using funds from the school’s endowment. This marked the beginning of Pertevniyal Lisesi as we know it today. Initially intended as a primary school, public demand transformed it into a full-fledged high school, officially becoming “Pertevniyal Lisesi”. As Turkey embraced progress, so did Pertevniyal Lisesi. The school expanded in 1937 with a four-classroom annex, later used as a post office from 1954 to 1964. The student population boomed, even requiring some classes to be held at Oruçgazi Primary School in the 1960s. Picture students huddled together, four to a desk, eager to learn despite cramped conditions. Further expansions followed, including a new building with classrooms, labs, a sports hall, and a conference hall in 1969. A temporary move to Çapa in 1986 proved short-lived. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of the school’s administration, alumni, and community, Pertevniyal Lisesi returned to its Aksaray home in 1992. Today, Pertevniyal Lisesi, designated an Anatolian High School in 1998, stands as a symbol of enduring educational excellence. Its history reflects not only its namesake’s vision but also the spirit of generations of students who walked its halls.