Decades ago, the teaching profession was one of the most respected profession in the society. Teachers were revered because of their ability to inculcate knowledge. But today, teaching has become less attractive to young people. This is evident following the drastic decline in the number of young people interested in the profession. This brain drain in the education sector has given rise to calls for incentives to attract young people into the teaching profession.

In 2015, the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB)—while reeling out the statistics of students offered provisional admission into Nigerian universities—also lamented the dwindling number of youths registering to study education-related courses. The educational sector in the country has suffered stunted growth due to corruption, poor educational structures, little or no incentives, and more. These and many more have contributed to the disdain and growing apathy towards the profession.  

Beyond having educational qualifications, teaching requires sacrifice and patience. But it is sad to note that society (government and most people) do not appreciate this level of selflessness. Many teachers complain about their working conditions, the complexity of tasks required, and the increased workload with little or no incentives to back them up. 

Hence, the question is: What is the gain of toiling in a profession that is not known for producing millionaires? While this question remains rhetoric, though valid, we cannot allow society to accommodate this misconception— “Teaching profession is wretched”—because of its effects on the sector. 

This article will explain feasible ways to make the teaching profession attractive to young people. 

Making the Teaching Profession attractive for Young people

 

  • Ensure consistent professional development

In every profession, it is ideal to make provision for continuous development, as this is in line with the general context of lifelong learning. Yet, this is still far from being achievable in the education sector in Nigeria. Ensuring continuous professional development is one way to sustain the interest of incumbent teachers and attract other young people to the profession. 

How to make the Teaching Profession attractive for Young people

A Teacher in a classroom

 

  • Creating sustainable salary policies

Nothing discourages a worker like receiving wages that do not equate to the services rendered. School teachers suffer poor salary policies, prolonged debts, and a lot of discrepancies. According to NigeriaInfoPedia.com, an average public school teacher takes home a minimum of N15,000 – N70,000 monthly. And considering the economic state of the country, this is relatively not a sustainable income. Most times, their salaries are delayed. 

To attract young people to the teaching profession, there should be an increase in salaries. Government should also develop better policies for the profession and compensate for extra work arising from additional activity.  This point does not only apply to public schools; private schools also have a role to play in making the teaching profession attractive. Some private schools offer “peanuts” as wages to teachers. This has to be corrected to increase young people’s interest in teaching. 

 

  • Providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning

Public schooling in Nigeria is nothing to write home about due to the poor structures in the name of school buildings. Some school buildings have leaking roofs, poor ventilation, dust-stricken classrooms, little or no chairs/tables for students and teachers, etc. The easiest way to make the teaching profession appealing to young people is to erect aesthetic buildings, offices, and classrooms for educators. 

The human environment affects productivity a lot. And to keep teachers focused on their duties, the environment must be appealing. Although private schools are setting the pace right in this aspect, the government needs to increase teaching standards in public schools. Non-governmental organizations can also assist in erecting conducive spaces for teachers. 

 

  • Incorporate technology into the educational sector

The 21st youth strives in a workplace that promotes technology and innovations. The traditional method of teaching is now stressful and does not align with the times we are in. But adopting tech will attract young teachers and reduce the workload generally. 

 

  • Provide basic amenities for teachers 

This applies to public schools that are conversant with posting teachers out to rural areas, either as a form of promotion or just a necessity. Having more people indicate interest to travel out of their base requires the provision of basic amenities to sustain them while away. These amenities include shelter, food, and even mobility to enable them to move around. Salary increase to cover their length of service is also a good idea. When they are assured of their welfare, they will naturally get attracted to the teaching profession. 

Conclusion

Teaching is an indispensable occupation in society. And the only way to enjoy it is to have sustainable structures that will benefit both teachers and students. The government has a role to play, but we individuals must do away with the derogatory mindsets we have about the teaching profession. Making teaching attractive starts from how we see it and how much we understand its importance.

 

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