The History of the School

At the end of the 1800s, prominent Turkish families in Thessalonica were in search of a Turkish school that would provide their children with a sound education and the opportunity to develop. Zeki Efendi, an Ottoman Turk who had emigrated from Egypt to Thessalonica, always dreamed of opening such a school. However, the person who managed to open the first Turkish school in Thessalonica was Şemsi Efendi.

Feyz-i Sıbyan, the first of what would become the Işık Schools, was opened on December 14, 1885, by Mümeyyiz Tevfik Efendi in Thessalonica. Şemsi Efendi, teacher of Mustafa Kemal, who had to close his school due to financial difficulties, also joined Feyz-i Sıbyan, and thus began Işık Schools’ tradition of enlightening Turkish children.

The school, which moved to Koska and then to Teşvikiye due to the Balkan Wars, quickly grew in stature by contributing to education without compromising on its mission during those difficult times. Being one of the oldest schools in Turkey, Işık played an important role in the transfer of foundations from the era of the Ottoman Empire to Turkey’s Republican Period. It celebrated the 49th anniversary of its founding by adopting the name Işık on December 16th, 1934 with the official approval of Atatürk.

Since 1885, the school has aimed to contribute to national education by establishing education institutions at every level from kindergarten to university for the purpose of raising “Good Citizens First.” In addition to FMV Işık Kindergarten, FMV Işık Primary and Middle School, and FMV Işık High School in the Nişantaşı Campus, the Ayazağa Campus, which opened in 1985, includes FMV Ayazağa Işık Kindergarten, FMV Ayazağa Işık Primary, and Middle School, FMV Ayazağa Işık High School and Science High School all contribute to the national education.

The foundation took its first step towards carrying its experience to the Anatolian side of Istanbul with the opening of the Erenköy Campus in 2000, which continues to operate on the same campus today with its FMV Erenköy Işık Kindergarten, FMV Erenköy Işık Primary and Middle School, FMV Erenköy Işık High School, and Science High School.

FMV Ispartakule Işık Kindergarten, FMV Ispartakule Işık Primary and Middle School, FMV Ispartakule Işık High School and Science High School in the Ispartakule Campus, which was opened in 2013, continue to radiate light in the westernmost part of the European side of Istanbul.

With the significant contributions of the FMV Board of Directors and FMV Honorary Board, the evaluations of distinguished academicians from FMV Işık University and the support of the employees, another brick was placed for the bright future of FMV Işık Schools, and the 6.998,73 m² school land of FMV Işık Schools Florya Campus was purchased on November 25, 2019. Thus, the first steps of the campus were taken and the construction of the 1st phase started in October 2021. In this distinguished educational institution, the foundations of which have been laid since 1885 with the growth approach of FMV Işık Schools based on measured and quality, it will continue to raise young people who are devoted to Atatürk's principles and reforms and shed light on the future.

FMV Işık Schools, providers of contemporary education to international standards since its establishment, have been an accredited members of the CIS (Council of International Schools) since 2009. The Ayazağa Campus, the Erenköy, and Nişantaşı Campuses have both become CIS members, in 2009, 2012, and 2018 respectively. This accreditation is significant in that it helps to fulfill FMV Işık Schools’ modern education mission by giving it recognition of international equivalence as a member of this prestigious institution, along with other schools in various parts of the world which provide quality education.

The IB DP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) has been implemented in FMV Ayazağa Işık High School and FMV Erenköy Işık High School since the 2014-2015 Academic Year. FMV Işık High School and FMV Ispartakule High School started to implement the IB DP in the 2022-2023 Academic Year. The IB Diploma Program, which is a globally respected academic program with high goals, aims to prepare students for universities in Turkey and abroad. The program also aims to showcase these students in university admissions, as well as raise inquiring, caring, globally-minded young people who will contribute to intercultural understanding with IB DP’s unique teaching program.

Starting from the 2018-2019 Academic Year, IB PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program - IB Primary Years Programme) is applied for students aged 3-12 in FMV Işık Kindergartens and FMV Işık Primary Schools. This program focuses on the development of children as individuals, both in the classroom and outside in the world. It is a framework discovered through the use of transdisciplinary skills which are driven by six themes of global importance with a strong emphasis on inquiry as well as knowledge and skills.

Since the 2019-2020 Academic Year, FMV Işık High School and Science High Schools have been offering the AP (Advanced Placement) Program, by virtue of which participating students are given the opportunity to take courses at university level and have these counted as credit at university. Students who successfully complete the program secure an advantage over those making a standard university application.

In FMV Işık Kindergartens, which give importance to individualized education, students are also offered Montessori education. With this program, which is prepared in accordance with the sensory and receptive periods of the students, individualized studies are carried out in the fields of daily life skills, sense, mathematics, language, and culture in line with their own interests and needs. Self-discipline, self-confidence, and taking responsibility skills are developed with the Montessori Program, which was developed in Italy and spread all over the world, offering an environment of learning by doing, experiencing, and at their own pace.

The International Award for Young People - Türkiye Programme implemented at FMV Işık High Schools aims to contribute to the individual development of young people. The International Award for Young People – Türkiye Programme is a personal development program that supports holistic development in an environment of social interaction and teamwork, open to all young volunteers between the ages of 14-24 without any restrictions on religion, language, race, or the like.

All FMV Kindergartens, Primary & Middle Schools, and High Schools became members of the Global Schools Program, an initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solution Network (UN SDSN) in the 2021-2022 Academic Year.

In addition to our experienced teachers, technological infrastructure, strong foreign language education, academic achievements, Işık Sports Art Design Academy aims to ensure the sustainable development of our children by discovering their sports and artistic abilities. FMV Işık Sports Club contributes to Turkish sports by evaluating them from a sports perspective, our constantly updated art platform Işık' We also support their artistic development with Art in the Art Hub.

FMV Işık University, which started its education life in 1996, today provides educational opportunities to students with 41 undergraduate programs in 3 faculties, 19 associate degree programs in 1 college, 43 master's and 6 doctorate programs in the Graduate School of Education, School of Foreign Languages and Continuing Education Center.

FMV Işık University came to life with the 139 years of culture of the Feyziye Schools Foundation. With its modern infrastructure that can meet today's needs such as classrooms, dormitories, libraries, social and sports facilities, and an art gallery, the Şile Campus was built on an area of 490 thousand square meters. The Maslak Campus is a new edition to the university in one of the centers of Istanbul city life.

FMV Işık University, with its strong academic staff, multi-purpose modern campuses, multinational and multicultural university life, vibrant and social campus life, participatory education, wide success-oriented scholarship opportunities, and exemplary performances of over 14 thousand graduates in business and career life, it is among the first choices of students in higher education.