The History of Education in Ottoman Macedonia in the Early 20th
Century: The Case of Kavala

Tilemachos Kalomoiris

(Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract: The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the History of Education in Macedonia and specifically in the city of Kavala in the early 20th century. Primary historical material from the archive of the General Archives of the State of Kavala, as well as relevant bibliography, was used for the research. The survey highlights the difficulties faced by the Greek community of Kavala in educating its new members. These difficulties were varied, both in the shortage of teaching staff and in financial difficulties. Adding to these difficulties may be the competition to attract students to schools in other religious communities in the city, which were more financially feasible and where foreign languages were taught, in which the Greek schools were lagging behind. The Operational Regulations of the Kavala Greek Orthodox Community highlight the efforts of local community members to promote education in the city. There is a record of the efforts of the townspeople for the financial support of the schools managed by the Greek Orthodox Community of Kavala. The financial support came both from the wealthy residents of the city and from the contributions of ordinary Kavala workers who gave a share of their salaries to support Greek schools.

Key words: history of education, Kavala, 20th Century