This article is a very interesting write-up of the current teaching standards in war-torn Afghanistan. It’s a very good read, but it basically states that the country was so desperate for teachers after the overthrow of the Taliban that it accepted pretty much all comers. The government wants to improve the teaching requirements, but they can’t get the funding they need from outside sources without providing a clearer depiction of how much is actually needed. As a result, they have designed a test for teachers that will be done in waves. This first wave will test only those teachers who have at least 2 years of post-secondary education high school – only about 25% of current teachers – to determine additional training for those who need and pay raises for those who deserve it. Currently, most teachers hold second jobs in order to make ends meet, and teaching is not their priority. Sunday’s exam will test general knowledge, pedagogy, and subject competency. The remaining 120,000+ secondary school graduates who are now teachers will be tested later.