Preschool education has held a special place in the Armenian community since the late nineteenth century. One of the clearest examples of this tradition is the life and work of educator Maritsa Chakiryan, who was born in Bahçecik. Her autobiographical letter, written in 1920, provides valuable information about the history of Armenian preschools.

Chakiryan studied at the Armenian school in Izmit and later directed kindergartens in Gedikpaşa, Izmit, Dolapdere, and other locations. She founded the private Chakiryan Kindergarten in Izmit, where she not only educated children but also trained kindergarten teachers for approximately fourteen years, promoting the progressive educational system of Friedrich Fröbel. Her students later worked in Constaninople and numerous Western Armenian communities throughout Anatolia.

Educational reports from 1905 show that Armenian preschools had a large number of pupils, with nearly equal participation by girls and boys. Education in these institutions was based on the principles of play, creative work, and the holistic development of the child.

After the tragic events of 1915, Maritsa Chakiryan was forced to close her school and return to Constantinople , where she continued serving Armenian educational institutions, including the Balat Orphanage and the Nersesian School on Kınalı Island.

Maritsa Chakiryan’s biography is not only the story of one devoted educator but also a testament to the high standard achieved by Armenian preschool education, which became one of the most significant accomplishments of the Armenian national educational system.