Private primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, are grappling with an unprecedented shortage of teachers, following the government’s recent minimum wage increase and the recruitment of over 5,600 new teachers for public schools.

This crisis was notably observed at the onset of the second term of the 2024/2025 academic session on January 6, 2025. Countless teachers from various private educational institutions in cities such as Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, and Eruwa did not return after the holiday break.

The root cause of this shortage is linked to both the new minimum wage policy and a significant teacher recruitment drive by the state government led by Governor Seyi Makinde. On the same day the academic term began, the state started distributing appointment letters to newly recruited educators at the Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities (LGUBEAs).

Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, emphasized the need for innovation among the new teachers, highlighting the state’s zero tolerance for exam malpractices. He also mentioned the necessity for a redistribution of teachers due to imbalances in staffing across local governments.

The minimum wage was raised to N80,000, as announced by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, which has evidently made public school positions more attractive. This adjustment has resulted in a significant number of private school teachers migrating to government roles.

Reports from across the state, from areas like Ido to Ibadan North, confirm a consistent pattern of teacher shortages in private schools. A school administrator from Lagelu, speaking anonymously, revealed that his school lost 27 teachers, attributing this to the state’s recruitment and wage adjustments.

Mrs. Busayo Akindele, a teacher in Ibadan North, shared that her school lost three teachers, and now faces the challenge of finding replacements amidst the demand for the new minimum wage. Parents like Mrs. Sade Oladele from Ido have also noticed the impact, acknowledging the benefits for public education but lamenting the negative effects on private institutions.

In Iseyin, Omolara, a local resident, pointed out that the allure of government employment has led to a significant number of private school teachers leaving, exacerbated by the wage issues many private schools cannot match.

Private primary and secondary schools in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, are grappling with an unprecedented shortage of teachers, following the government’s recent minimum wage increase and the recruitment of over 5,600 new teachers for public schools.

This crisis was notably observed at the onset of the second term of the 2024/2025 academic session on January 6, 2025. Countless teachers from various private educational institutions in cities such as Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin, and Eruwa did not return after the holiday break.

The root cause of this shortage is linked to both the new minimum wage policy and a significant teacher recruitment drive by the state government led by Governor Seyi Makinde. On the same day the academic term began, the state started distributing appointment letters to newly recruited educators at the Local Government Universal Basic Education Authorities (LGUBEAs).

Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, emphasized the need for innovation among the new teachers, highlighting the state’s zero tolerance for exam malpractices. He also mentioned the necessity for a redistribution of teachers due to imbalances in staffing across local governments.

The minimum wage was raised to N80,000, as announced by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, which has evidently made public school positions more attractive. This adjustment has resulted in a significant number of private school teachers migrating to government roles.

Reports from across the state, from areas like Ido to Ibadan North, confirm a consistent pattern of teacher shortages in private schools. A school administrator from Lagelu, speaking anonymously, revealed that his school lost 27 teachers, attributing this to the state’s recruitment and wage adjustments.

Mrs. Busayo Akindele, a teacher in Ibadan North, shared that her school lost three teachers, and now faces the challenge of finding replacements amidst the demand for the new minimum wage. Parents like Mrs. Sade Oladele from Ido have also noticed the impact, acknowledging the benefits for public education but lamenting the negative effects on private institutions.

In Iseyin, Omolara, a local resident, pointed out that the allure of government employment has led to a significant number of private school teachers leaving, exacerbated by the wage issues many private schools cannot match.