By Adem Salvarcioglu

ANKARA

A Thai school will be teaching Turkish language as part of its curriculum, an official of Turkey's Yunus Emre Institute (YEE) said on Thursday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Omer Altun, head of the YEE’s Kuala Lumpur office, said he was pleased that Turkish language will be taught as a school subject in Thailand for the first time.

"Turkish lessons will be taught as a compulsory course in the Integrated Islamic School in the city of Pattani," he said.

In late April, the Kuala Lumpur office of YEE and the Thai school -- Integrated Islamic School -- in Pattani had signed a protocol in this regard.

According to the protocol, 442 students at the school will take Turkish language classes.

Named after a 13th century Turkish poet, the Yunus Emre Institute aims to promote Turkey through public and cultural diplomacy activities.

The main goal of the institution is to build bonds of friendship between Turkey and other countries in order to increase cultural exchange.

With 55 offices abroad, the institute currently operates in over 40 countries.