Ayşe Seniha Hızal (b. 1897, Istanbul – d. 1985, Istanbul) was one of the first women to serve as an inspector of education and a member of parliament in the Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, playing an active role in the country’s educational and political life. Throughout her career, which began as a teacher and extended to inspectorship, foreign educational research, and membership in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, she made significant contributions to the education of girls, the representation of women in public life, and teacher training policies. She passed away in Istanbul in 1985 and was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.

Ayşe Seniha Hızal was born in Istanbul in 1897. Although limited information exists about her early education, it is known that she entered the teaching profession at a young age and served at prominent teacher training institutions of her time such as Darülmuallimat. She worked as a teacher in various girls’ secondary schools and preparatory institutions in Istanbul, actively promoting female students’ access to education. To refine her educational philosophy, she closely followed modern teaching methods of her era.

In 1922, she won a competitive examination organized by the Ministry of National Education and was sent to Germany. There, she conducted on-site research into German teacher training colleges and the national education system. Her observations of European educational practices laid the foundation for the practical policy recommendations she would later propose in her inspection roles.

In 1925, she was appointed as an inspector of education, becoming one of the first women to hold this position. Assigned to various regions in Anatolia, she inspected schools and went beyond mere oversight by producing reports aimed at strengthening the professional environments of female teachers and proposing measures to expand girls’ access to education. She also examined key dimensions of education—including curriculum, teaching materials, and teacher qualifications—and submitted regular reports to the central administration.

From 1951 to 1954, she served as a member of parliament for Istanbul in the 8th term of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. During this period, she actively engaged in issues such as working conditions for teachers, women’s rights to education, and the development of education policies in line with the principle of secularism. In her speeches on the parliamentary floor, she emphasized the need for equal opportunity in education, the representation of women in public service, and the adoption of modern pedagogical principles.

She also played an active role in parliamentary committees, contributing to the planning of education policies. Archival records and minutes of the Grand National Assembly document her proposals advocating for women’s rights and the democratization of education.

After her term in parliament, she held no further public office. While specific details about her retirement years are unavailable, it is evident that she did not maintain an active public profile. Ayşe Seniha Hızal passed away in Istanbul in 1985 and was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.