Upper secondary science is the bridge to science-related careers and thereby to human capital formation in science and technology. Quality rather than quantity is what counts at this level and teacher quality is a major determinant. This book looks at upper secondary science teacher quality in eighteen countries from affluent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members to very poor countries. The yardsticks applied to teacher quality are academic and professional education and training, professional practice including the resource base, continuing professional development, and science teacher associations. All country case studies are written to facilitate internal cross-referencing, thereby accentuating the comparative nature of the volume. The book ends with an 'investment guide' that focuses on where and how money is best spent in relation to building up and maintaining a quality upper secondary science teaching force.