When it comes to education, we believe the best way to ensure that students receive a quality education is by investing in the teachers leading the charge.
One U.S.-based study found that children placed with high-performing teachers for three consecutive years scored significantly higher on standardized tests than children who had low-performing teachers.
The problem is that long hours and low pay have left many communities without a sufficient number of teachers, especially in the remote areas where we work. In Afghanistan, for example, the Ministry of Education’s strategic plan calls for one teacher for every 54 students — a ratio that is not conducive for individualized learning. In contrast, the U.S. national average public-school student-teacher ratio is approximately 16:1. Additionally, teaching in Central Asia historically focused on memorization, not comprehension. Little or no emphasis was placed on understanding child development or accommodating different learning styles.
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