The Growth of Education

Over the following decades several 'mutual teaching' schools were set up, as primary education institutes where the teacher made use of older and more advanced pupils to teach younger ones. From 1835 onwards the town also had a Greek School or Scholarcheion (three-year secondary school), where a girls' class opened in 1844.

The Epimenides School opened its doors in 1862, and on 9^th October of the same year a decision was taken to found a High School, which began operation the following academic year. In 1867 Heraklion could boast "a Greek Boys' School, comprising four years, of which the senior one corresponds to the first year in High School" (Kalliphron, Educational Matters, Constantinople 1867 - in Greek). The Haleppa Pact and the Law on Education passed by the General Assembly of Cretans in 1881 lent further impetus to the growth of education.