Vefa High School, founded in 1872 as “Dersaadet Idadi-i Mülkiye-i Şahane,” continues to preserve its 154-year educational legacy, standing among Türkiye’s most established schools with a history spanning the Ottoman Empire, the republic and the digital age.
Founded during efforts to establish a modern education system in the Ottoman Empire, Vefa became the first civilian high school to provide education in the native language following the 1869 Maarif-i Umumiye Nizamnamesi.
The school initially operated under Mekteb-i Mülkiye before moving to the Mütercim Rüştü Pasha Mansion in 1881. It was renamed Vefa Idadisi in 1900 after the neighborhood where it was located and was elevated to sultani status in 1914.
Vefa’s history was also shaped by the Balkan Wars and the Battle of Gallipoli, when many of its students and teachers volunteered for military service. During the Gallipoli campaign, senior students were sent to the front in military uniforms, accompanied by marches, and the school went without graduating a class for an extended period.
Following the 1924 Law on the Unification of Education, the institution became Vefa Erkek Lisesi (Vefa Boys High School). After temporarily operating as a middle school, it regained high school status in 1933 through efforts by its alumni and returned to its historic building.
The school opened one of Istanbul’s first evening high schools in 1958. Vefa Evening High School operated until 1978 and produced around 5,000 graduates.
Vefa was converted into an Anatolian high school in 1990 following demographic changes in the neighborhood and initiatives by alumni. In 2001, the word “Anadolu” was removed from its name, restoring its historic identity as Vefa Lisesi.
The school’s historic buildings, which were damaged in the 1999 earthquake, were later restored with support from alumni and public institutions. Its physical infrastructure and technological facilities were subsequently modernized through the “Adaptation to the 21st Century Project.”
Since the 2006-2007 academic year, Vefa has provided five years of education, including an English preparatory year and four years of high school education.
The school currently operates on a 4,481-square-meter campus in Istanbul’s Fatih district, which includes the main building, the historic Mütercim Rüştü Pasha Mansion and a girls’ dormitory.
The dormitory, designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Kemalettin, accommodates 112 students. The campus also includes the Şehit Ali Pasha Library, built in 1715, and sections of the Şehzade Mosque that have been repurposed for educational and cultural activities.
The school maintains traditions including its badge ceremony, graduation ceremony, Career Days, spring festival, Boza Day and Culture Week.
School principal Ahmet Kavut said Vefa began its educational journey as Mekteb-i Mülkiye Idadisi in 1872 and has maintained its place in Türkiye’s education history for more than a century and a half.
“With its 154-year history, our school is one of Türkiye’s most respected educational institutions, providing education based on the principles of science, love and tolerance,” Kavut said.
The school currently has 730 students, including 120 students admitted to its English preparatory program. Kavut said students predominantly pursue the science track and often go on to study medicine and engineering.
He also emphasized the importance of the school’s traditional activities, saying they help students develop a strong sense of belonging while supporting their social, cultural and sporting development.
