Darrüşşafaka Eğitim Kurumları: a school for chıldren wıthout a father

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5/27/08 Darussafaka Egitim Kurlmlari: School for children without fathers

Seeing this school was IMPRESSIVE! The facilities are above and beyond any school that I have seen before!
The motto of the school: “Changing lives through education”
This 145 year old boarding school was originally funded by the Sultan and is currently funded by private donors (no government funding). It is for children who are gifted, low income, AND don’t have a father. Some of the children are orphans meaning they have no father or mother. Admissions are open to students who have just finished 3rd grade and will be going into 4th grade. This age is ideal because students are still young yet independent. Students attend through the 12th grade and are prepared for the university exam at this school.

Students DO NOT PAY for their education; some provided spending money depending on the circumstances. It costs about $10,000 for one student per year.

Since it is a boarding school students live at the school M-F and are allowed to leave Friday at 2:30PM to go home or to the house of a relative/ designated caregiver. Very few students see their parents less than 3 times per year. Typically they go home between semesters and on religious holidays.

Of the 81 provinces in Turkey 68 are represented at the school. There is much publicity about the school throughout the country to make potential students aware of the opportunities the school has to offer.

Admissions were previously only academic based. This year however it will also be based on creativity. I asked how they would score creativity and they said that students would have to do things such as draw a picture to illustrate a story they have read/heard or have to create something with the materials they are given . This is an attempt to get a more will rounded student. Based on academic test scores and creativity the students with the most potential are allowed to apply to the school. Applications are followed by home checks and medical evaluations. 120 students were accepted last year with 125 students as the goal for next year.

The facilities at this school include: dorms for both girls and boys that have study rooms and areas for socialization, classrooms, and science labs. Other facilities are available and on the school campus but are connected to other clubs or professional sports teams. 3 swimming pools are available for students along with a health club. There is a theater with a maximum capacity of 2500 people and a 5 screen movie theater. Soccer fields and indoor tennis courts are used by students during the day and by club members at night and on the weekends.

All of this is great BUT we also found out that the academics are WAY below what they should be. 45% was the average academic knowledge for students graduating from this school. Over the past 10 years there has been an academic decline at this school. This year the administrations has been replaced and have hopes of improving the school. So far they have seen some improvements but say a vast majority of them will be seen over time.

Students wake up at 7:00 to get ready for breakfast at 8:15. Bed time is at 10:00 or 10:30 for student in grades 4-8. High school students are allowed to stay up until 11:30 unless they need extra time to do more school work.

Interesting Fact: Schools here use music (Mozart) instead of a bell. It is much more pleasing for the ear but does NOT get the same instantaneous response to get to class as a bell does. Some schools in Istanbul don’t have bells; only clocks all over the school. This teaches students to be aware of the time and that they are accountable for getting to places when they are supposed to be there.

We had the night off to be with our families. There was a charter meeting for a new club tonight. Since my host father is a past district governor we got to attend the meeting. I was able to chat with the members of the thought to be youngest Rotary clubs in Turkey and maybe in the world: average age is 29.6 It was a typical Rotary meeting, but the food was exceptionally good.

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Photos

basketball court
Thıs court ıs located at the school and ıs also used by theır professıonal basketball team. Wouldnt ıt be any chılds dream to play on a court thıs sıze

Thıs ıs one of the three pools
There are 2 ındoor and 1 outdoor pools connected to the recreatıon complex. Also ıncluded are tennıs courts (ındoor and outdoor) a full workout gym and many others

Soccerfıeld
It ıs not quıte full sıze but ıt gıves the chıldren somethıng to practıce on.

The school
Students here are requıred to play at least one sport and one ınstrument. thıs makes for a more well rounded student. Also ıf student faıls one class he or she ıs kıcked out of the school

The dorm
Thıs ıs a gırls dorm room

Scıence lab
5 scıences are taught at the hıghschool level

4th grade class
Thıs ıs the fırst year they learn Englısh but they were very excıted to tell us welcome to Turkey

Comments

[Heather]

Wow! What an impressive school. I hope that they can get their academics up soon.

[Hope]

Hey, Sarah worry I haven't emailed lately. I've been busy with end of the year stuff and packing up the room. The school is awesome. You look so cute with the fourth graders. I hope everything is going well. You are still in my prayers. Love in Christ Hope :)