Australian curriculum introduced at international school in Türkiye

ISTANBUL

Australia’s education program is being implemented in the curriculum of the Aljazari International School of Science and Technology (AISST) in Istanbul for the new academic year, the school board announced Tuesday.

Türkiye’s Ministry of Education and the Board of Education approved the Australian curriculum in June this year, and the agreement was made official on Thursday with AISST and the Western Australian Ministry of Education.

Western Australia’s Minister for Culture and the Arts; Sport and Recreation; International Education; Heritage, David Templeman, AISST’s founding principals Ersin Iscioglu and Ebubekir Solmaz, Juanita Healy, executive director of Western Australia’s School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA), senior diplomats and Western Australian University officials attended the ceremony.

Templeman noted the friendly relationship between Türkiye and Australia, stressing that the collaboration is a significant step toward spreading the Western Australian curriculum in Türkiye. He referred to the two countries' shared history, culture and cooperation.

He added that as a leader in English language education in Türkiye, Aljazari Science and Technology Schools would be crucial in enhancing the fruitful relationship between the two countries.

The two founding principals of AISST expressed their positive belief that this step will benefit the multicultural and multinational relationship between Türkiye and Australia. Iscioglu and Solmnaz added that students who undertake education with the Western Australian program will have the opportunity to further their academic goals and careers in Türkiye and Australia.

First time in Türkiye

The number of international students arriving for education and career opportunities in Türkiye is rising due to the global trading of Turkish products and services.

The Australian curriculum will be offered for the first time at an international school in Türkiye. It will be offered to English-speaking international students as an alternative to UK and US curricula, according to the statement released by Aljazari Science and Technology Schools.

Implementing the multicultural structure of the Western Australian curriculum in a world city like Istanbul is an important step for developing cultural ties and international cooperation.

Exchange programs

Exchange programs to enhance ties and create bridges between the two countries will also be available for students and teachers, according to the statement issued by the school.

After their success in the UN simulation ‘Model United Nations’ program held at two separate conferences in Istanbul, the teams from the school became finalists in 2023 at the annual Turkish technology and aviation event known as Teknofest. The program was implemented for international students to produce solutions to world issues.

Aljazari Science and Technology Schools educates students from 45 nationalities in a rich cultural environment. The school has become a center for the Aljazari Learning Program, which the school developed to infuse the IB-International Baccalaureate, Western Australian and Turkish education programs.