The requirement of a teaching license, obtained through testing that confirms a prospective teacher's ability and preparedness to teach the Kingdom's children, is necessary and should certainly be implemented as soon as possible. The quality of the education in Saudi Arabia is increasingly becoming an issue, so much so that the government must step in and take steps to assure that the teachers it hires to educate citizens and residents are, indeed, qualified. The future of the country is in the hands of the nation's teachers and it is beyond debate that those hands must be qualified to accept such responsibility. Ironically, of course, it is up to the educational system itself to train prospective candidates so that they are knowledgeable enough to meet the stated qualifications. That means making sure that there are qualified teachers able to teach new teachers correctly and well enough that they are assured of passing the credentials exam. This does not mean simply teaching for the test but effectively teaching a curriculum that conveys the appropriate knowledge and enables the practical experience that will make passing the test simply a formality for the majority of candidates. As for those teachers who are already in the classroom, they must be given the chance to acquire the formal knowledge necessary to pass the test. This could mean refresher courses for some and, for others, a complete curriculum aimed at bringing up to speed to teach in the modern world. The point is not to pass the test but to acquire the knowledge and skills to become a qualified teacher, making passing the test just one more part of the road to teaching for living. For those who simply cannot pass the test or decline to study sufficiently to pass the test, then the consequences are obvious. That's just another inevitable and important aspect of a quality educational system. __
