FRENCH MANDATORY EDUCATION: THE CASE OF SANJAK (HATAY) (1920-1939)

Abstract

Although Hatay existed in National Pact borders, it was kept out of Turkish borders with the Ankara Treaty signed on October 20, 1921 in order to stop the armed conflict with France under extraordinary conditions of Independence War. Yet, Ankara Government inserted provisions into this treaty in order that the Turks in the district could pursue their national existence. These provisions were preserved in the same way in Lausanne Peace Treaty and other treaties signed between France and Turkey. The case of Syria, mandated by France in The San Remo Conference, was also approved by The Nations League on July 24, 1922. So, Hatay was mandated by France along with Syria. In the period of French Mandate Government, every community was educated in its own language. Formal schools were opened for non-Turkish groups in Hatay and the opening of private schools was supported. While the children belonging to these groups were formerly educated in the Turkish language, in the newly opened schools the Turkish language was not included at all. Moreover, as in Syria, France implemented educational policies in Hatay which would raise mandate government-dependent people

Keywords

• French Mandatory, Hatay