Portrait of Mevhibe Şefik The First Turkish Cypriot Woman art Teacher

Abstract

The professional achievement of women is very important in the development of the turkish cypriot society. The role of the first women teachers in the progress of education system held an important share in the trend of modernization of the society. The first half on the 20th century for cyprus was a period of struggle to gain independence and retain national identity under difficult conditions both economically and politically. The presence of specalist women in every occupational field could not be achieved prior to the 1950s. The achievements can be performed only in an environment that offers a rich educational background. During the periods that lacked this essential educational system for female student on the ısland under the British Rule, young scholars training to be teacher in cyprus made the best of every opportunity and knowledge they acquired from the educators, mainly non-natives to improve themselves. This paper will introduce the reader to one of these women of the first Turkish art Teacher in Cyprus. Our attempts to discover more about the life of this woman art teacher led to Mevhibe Şefik She is , in fact, remembered today not only as an art teacher but also as the first female typing insturactor and stage designer.