I have heard this news circulating for a while. Nothing is set but the current thinking according to my contacts is as follows:

1. This applies to all schools except the community schools (ASD, DESS, Doha College)--although there is a push to include them. These schools are exempted from many of the Supreme Council's requirements, such as the Arabic requirement. Other private international schools would be subject to the rules, even if they are English-speaking. This would include Park House, Sherbourne, Compass, etc.

2. The exam WILL include questions about local history, culture (read Islam and national culture). It will also include questions about teaching theory and practice and questions on maths and sciences tailored to the teaching level.

Like everything the plan is to implement this right away and for all current and incoming teachers, but whether it will happen is another issue altogether. Many long-term teachers, particularly in the Indian and Arabic-speaking schools, have spoken out against this. I suspect the English-speaking schools to do the same once news spread.

FYI--I am not a teacher, but such bits of information as this run across my desk routinely. I cannot judge yet if this is a good or bad idea. The intention is good, but the implementation may be a disaster.