Qatar’s first Turkish school “Türk Okulu” has officially opened to students.

The academic school year in Turkey starts in September, but some 50 children began their terms in Qatar last week.

The move comes as the two countries relationship grows stronger both economically and politically.

There are some 8,000 Turkish families in Qatar, and many have expressed a desire to send their children to a Turkish-curriculum school, the Qatar Tribune reports.

This school will be able to take some 300 children from first to eighth grade at heavily subsidized prices, the newspaper quoted Ambassador Ahmet Demirok as saying.

And speaking to Doha News, school Director Muhammet Karatosun said:

“We have only accepted Turkish students for the first year, and step-by-step we’ll start accepting other nationalities.”

The curriculum

In addition to math, science, social life and Islamic studies, students at Türk Okulu will also take visual arts and music classes.

All books have been sent over from Turkey, and subjects will be taught in the Turkish language.

English and Arabic classes will also be included in the curriculum.

Currently, six teachers from Turkey are teaching eight classes, though four more instructors will arrive this week, Karatosun said. Eventually, 17 teachers will work there.

He added that the school plans to organize several events this year. These include a Turkish food festival, a folklore performance and a Turkish National Day celebration.

They will also mark Qatar National Day and the two Eids.

The school breaks for holiday in January for the winter, and in June for the summer.

Thoughts?