Emergence of Modern Schools in Bandar Lenge and the Role of Foreign States in Their Establishment (From the Naserid Period to the Beginning of the Pahlavi Period)

One of the most important political and cultural developments in the social history of Iran is the establishment of new schools in the Qajar period; a prolonged process that began in the Naserid period with the invention of the phonetic alphabet by Mirza Hasan Rushdieh and gradually spread from the west of Iran to other regions of the country after overcoming many obstacles in the confrontation between tradition and modernity. After the establishment of Saadat School in Bushehr, the change in Iran's educational structure spread to other southern ports, including Bandar Lenge. The new schools, located directly on the Persian Gulf and at the southern gateway to the country, attracted the attention of foreign businessmen and diplomats. From the very beginning, in the post-constitutional period, the establishment of these schools was met with resistance. However, the schools managed to overcome the oppositions and obtain the approval of the Ministry of Education, so they continued to operate during the Pahlavi period. The present article was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method and is based on primary archival sources such as documents and newspapers. The aim of the article is to examine the introduction of new educational methods in the schools in Bandar Lenge. The result shows that social conditions, the performance of various individuals and institutions and foreign support played a decisive role in the establishment of new schools. In addition, the frequent presence of foreigners under the pretext of financial aid and educational support became one of the ways to increase foreign influence.