Ken’ân Rifâî’s next post as provincial director of education was Trabzon.
In 1896, he was appointed as a teacher in this city. He taught public health, French, science and geography.
Education was a very active field in Trabzon at that time. Ken’ân Rifâî took a close interest in madrasas and secondary schools, which had around 450 students. He worked on issues such as the needs of the organization from the center to the provinces, working conditions and performance of educators.
He was especially interested in the financial affairs of the education directorate. He collaborated with local administrators and the community to meet the educational needs of the region.
Ken’an Rifâî’s appointment to Trabzon was the beginning of a new era in both his professional life and his personal development. In Trabzon, he began to lead a life surrounded by precious people. One of the most remarkable figures of this period was Governor Kadri Bey, who served in Trabzon for many years.
Kadri Bey deeply impressed Ken’an Rifâî with his intelligence, knowledge and pleasant conversation. Kadri Bey also liked and admired the young education director. The friendship that developed between them turned into a deep and sincere bond that would last for years after Trabzon.
His years in Trabzon left a deep mark on Ken’an Rifâî’s life and works. The friendships he made, the experiences he had and the challenges he faced during this period laid the foundations for his teaching and influence on his community.
His return to Istanbul gave a new direction to his work in the field of education and culture. Ken’ân Rifâî was appointed as the Director of Numûne-i Terakki High School, where he served as a teacher in Sultan Sultan II. Under the directives of Abdülhamid II, he carried out important educational reforms.
Ken’ân Rifâî’s work in Trabzon was recognized by the Ministry of Education with the Order of Taltif. In 1896, due to his mother’s illness, he requested a transfer to Istanbul.
