How Much is Primary School Teacher Salary in Nigeria? Government and Private

How Much is Primary School Teacher Salary in Nigeria
How Much is Primary School Teacher Salary in Nigeria

The place of a primary school teacher in Nigeria is very significant. They remain the basic tools with which any child’s learning process starts. And keep young minds growing, kindle curiosity, and foster passion for education. But a question that often arises is: Primary School Teacher Salary – how much do these people earn?

In this content, we will research to know more about How Much is Primary School Teacher Salary in Nigeria, for both government and private school teachers.

About Primary School Teachers In Nigeria

Primary school teachers in Nigeria are charged with the responsibility of teaching pupils in the age bracket of five to eleven years. They teach basics such as literacy and numeracy as well as social studies and basic sciences. 

Primarily, a good primary school teacher should be patient, energetic, and have adequate knowledge of child psychology. They are very important in the lives of children and young persons because they facilitate their learning process.

Who is in charge of primary education in Nigeria?

Primary education in Nigeria is administered by both the federal government and the state governments. Federal Ministry of Education lays down national policies, while the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) maybe responsible for the overall management of primary schools in the state. This consists of employing and remunerating teachers.

How much is the Nigerian government Teacher’s salary?

Statistically speaking, there is no specific figure on Primary School Teacher Salary in Nigeria. 

Experience: It is like in many other professions; the more experienced teachers are always likely to be paid more. 

Therefore, a teacher with 10 to 15 years of experience will receive a higher Primary School Teacher Salary than a fresh teacher.

Location: The pay scale for Primary School Teachers is quite variable and it depends on the area. Teachers in large urban areas or in states where the cost of living is high will be paid more to make sure that they are retained in service.

Variations Across States: There are certain national pay bands and each state has relative discretion on determining the particular salary level within these limits. This means that a Primary School Teacher Salary in Lagos might not be the same as a School Teacher Salary in Enugu.

Type of School: The public schools normally offer wages based on state statutory rates while the private schools may provide a wider range of wages based on the school’s financial capability and the teacher’s skills and experience.

Qualifications: Teachers who have received other certifications or degrees may be paid higher salaries.

Allowances: Extra allowances for accommodation, transport, or placement in a rural area may be given by some states or schools.

Unionization: One might argue that belonging to a teacher’s union means that one has some bargaining power concerning salaries and working conditions.

Who pays primary school teachers in Nigeria?

The entity responsible for paying Primary School teachers salaries depends on the type of school:

Public Schools: In the public school teachers are paid by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) of their respective states.

Private Schools: Private schools have individual policies concerning remuneration, and they pay teachers’ salaries themselves.

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What is the salary of a primary school teacher in Nigeria

Depending on whether one attends a public or private primary school, the teacher’s salary may differ significantly in Nigeria.

Low End: Novice teachers teaching in the public schools could earn as low as ₦29,783 every month.

High End: Qualified teachers in standard private schools may earn as much as one hundred and ninety-nine thousand, three hundred and seventy-five naira per month.

Even though the remuneration component is significant, there are other factors apart from the salary when it comes to choosing a teaching job.

Benefits: Public schools offer some employment incentives such as health and medical coverage and pensions. The extent of benefits in private schools may differ according to the school.

Work Environment: These include the number of students that can be enrolled in the class, resources that are available, as well as the school culture.

Career Growth: Discuss what steps can be taken to find better job prospects within the school system.

What is the salary of a public school teacher in Nigeria

Nigeria primary school teachers are paid through Teachers Service Commission (TSC) payroll. 

Entry-level: Newly recruited teachers into the public school system, who are fresh graduates, are paid a salary that ranges from ₦29,783 to ₦77,975 monthly.

Experienced Teachers: These remunerations can be in the form of promotions where after serving for several years as a teacher in a public school, the teacher can be promoted. The range after attaining five years of experience can be ₦29,514 – ₦74,988 for the month.

The establishment has witnessed continuous discourse and suggestions with respect to the enhancement of teacher remuneration in Nigeria. 

For example, a proposed bill by the House of Representatives Committee on University Education for the increase in the remunerations of teachers called for a minimum of ₦250,000 per month for each of the primary school teachers.

Although this proposal has not been adopted yet, it points to the increasing awareness regarding the need to re-consider compensation for educators.

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What is the salary of a private school teacher in Nigeria

The salary of a private school teacher in Nigeria may be relatively determined in various ways. Private school educators, unlike public school educators, are not under any national pay scale.

Their salary depends on the various individual schools and other aspects such as school reputation, school location, and other school financial capabilities.

Entry-level: A teacher in a private school could earn as low as ₦20,000 to ₦40,000 for the first few years especially if the school is relatively small.

Experienced Teachers: Teachers with experience and qualifications in well-established private schools may earn much higher salaries of about ₦70,000 or even more than ₦100,000 per month.

The Fight for Fair Compensation

There have been frequent demands by stakeholders to enhance the N-Primary School Teacher Salary structure in Nigeria. They support their call by claiming that proper remuneration of teachers would make them attract and retain competent staff, hence improving the quality of education for Nigerian children. 

The attempt to establish the minimum wage for teachers has been encouraged, but the progress has been slow.

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Which Is it better: Private or public school?

Even potential teachers can be heard to ask this question: Choosing between becoming a teacher in a Nigerian public or private school is not an easy decision to make since it will involve so many factors like pay structure, environment, type of students and even one’s preference on teachers type.

Actually, there is no such definitive answer as they both are full of opportunities and problems; let’s take a closer look at both of them and see which one seems better.

Public Schools

Nigerian public schools are the backbone of learning institutions as they enroll many students in the country. Here you will be in the center of the community as a teacher shaping the future generation of learners. 

This could be demanding because of the large number of students, however this comes with the reality that one has the ability to help many students.

Nevertheless, public schools strive to work under the limited availability of resources. The classroom may contain many students, there might not be enough textbooks, and the buildings might require some maintenance. 

Here, you will need to be innovative and come up with unique ideas to solve problems. You will also be forced to create interesting lessons out of almost nothing and thus, you will learn how to improvise.

Teachers in public schools are known to be very related with one and another. It would be a community of individuals to exchange lesson plans and ideas and to encourage others when their morale is low. 

There is no doubt of the existence of purpose in this context. Not only are you teaching, you are building the future of a nation.

Private Schools

Private schools are different in their teaching approach. Schools are also generally smaller which results in better chance of students receiving individual attention. Opponents tend to have more resources at their disposal, access to the most recent technology, and improved learning materials.

Here, you will be able to try new approaches to teaching and create unique and fresh environment that will inspire the learners.

The rate may be faster in private schools, where academic performance is given a higher level of importance. Parents are usually known to have high expectations and this conveys a lot of pressure on one to succeed.

However, the feedback loop can be faster and provide more detailed information about the students’ performance, which in turn can be used to adjust teaching.

The financial rewards in private schools may also be better, although this has to do with the school’s ranking and place. But do not forget, money in itself is not the source of all happiness. 

The feeling of unity might not be as strong as in public institutions, especially in private schools where competition is often encouraged.

FAQs

How much are government teachers paid in Nigeria?

NGN 72,500 per month

Who pays primary school teachers in Nigeria?

state governments

What is the new salary structure for teachers?

N150,000 monthly

Conclusion

Although the remuneration range may not be deemed one of the highest for primary school teachers in Nigeria, the intrinsic gains are unarguable. 

Sometimes, teaching and having a positive impact on young minds, or seeing the happiness from learning, becomes a motivation for many educators. 

To those persons with a keen interest in the teaching profession especially in the area of primary education, a primary school teacher in Nigeria with the current salary notwithstanding would be very rewarding in this perspective.

References

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