Edirne’s 1. Murat Anadolu Lisesi is housed in a 133‑year‑old building that has served a variety of functions since its construction in 1893. The structure, originally built by Polish settlers as the “Pulak Okulu,” was used as a minority school until 1912. During the Balkan Wars (1912‑1913) it was converted into a hospital, and after the conflict it returned to educational use. In 1915 it became a girls’ teacher training school, a role it held until 1918. The building later functioned as a minority school, a clergy school, and in 1927 was purchased by the Tobacco Monopoly Ministry and used as a tobacco depot. The Ministry of National Education acquired the property in 1958, and it served as the Male Primary Teacher School until 1973. The following year it was allocated to 1. Murat Middle School, and from the 1984‑85 academic year it has operated as 1. Murat High School. The school now contains 29 classrooms, a conference hall, multipurpose rooms, chemistry laboratories, a sports area, an information technology classroom, a library, and a cafeteria. It employs 31 teachers and two administrators and serves 192 students in 11 classes. Principal Yakup Öz told Anadolu Ajansı that the school’s current building has been in use as a high school since the 2009‑2010 academic year. He added that 25 students took the university entrance exam in the most recent cycle, and 10 were admitted to universities including Trakya University (Medical Faculty), Istanbul Technical University (Architecture Faculty), and the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Ondokuz Mayıs University. Öz also highlighted the school’s extracurricular activities in the social, artistic, and cultural fields. The building’s preservation has been supported by local authorities. Governor Yunus Sezer and Mayor Filiz Gencan have provided assistance in restoring the structure, allowing the school to continue operating in a historic setting. Öz expressed gratitude for the governor’s role in “reviving the school” and noted that the building’s life has been extended by a century through these efforts. The school’s name honors Sultan Murat I, who captured Edirne in 1361. “It is a source of pride for us to carry the name of 1. Murat in a building that has witnessed so much history,” Öz said. He also mentioned that a film about Dr. Sadık Ahmet, a figure who brought the struggle of Western Thrace Turks to the world, was partially shot on the school’s premises. Located in the historic Kaleiçi district, the 1. Murat Anadolu Lisesi’s building is one of Edirne’s most significant architectural relics. The city, which served as the Ottoman capital for 92 years, is often described as an open‑air museum. The school’s continued use of the 19th‑century structure demonstrates how Edirne’s heritage can be integrated into contemporary education.
Article and image source: Haberler