As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Teachers’ Day 2025, the National President of the Private and Independent Schools Tutors Union of Nigeria (PRISCTUN), Comrade Dr. Tunde Folarin, has called for urgent government intervention to address the poor welfare and deplorable working conditions of teachers in private schools across the country.
Delivering his address during the union’s commemoration of the global event on Sunday, October 5, 2025, Dr. Folarin said that while teachers are the backbone of national development, private school tutors remain among the most neglected professionals in Nigeria’s labour force.
He described the theme of this year’s celebration, “Empowering Educators, Strengthening Resilience, Building Sustainability,” as timely, stressing that education cannot thrive without first empowering those who drive it.
“Nigerian private school teachers are groaning, mournful, and grossly abused,” Folarin lamented. “We need a safeguarded and enduring framework to eliminate what can only be described as modern-day enslavement. The government must legislate to protect private school teachers from unfair labour practices.”
The PRISCTUN president listed key areas that require immediate reform, including the establishment of industry minimum wages, housing and transport allowances, pension schemes, redundancy benefits, and access to medical facilities and insurance coverage.
He emphasized that the “Decent Work Agenda”—championed globally by the ILO and supported by Nigeria’s labour movement—must be applied effectively to the education sector. “Empowering educators will produce results-oriented teaching services and ultimately build a sustainable and resilient future for Nigeria,” he added.
Addressing misconceptions about falling educational standards, Folarin clarified that “the problem is not declining standards but inadequate inputs—ranging from poor pay to lack of career progression and the employment of untrained personnel.”
He also lauded the Federal Ministry of Education for introducing a new national curriculum but urged that its implementation be revisited to ensure smooth execution.
PRISCTUN, he said, remains committed to working with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), school proprietors, and other education stakeholders to strengthen the private education sub-sector and ensure fair treatment for teachers.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Folarin extended appreciation to the NLC, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and the media for their continued support of the union’s cause, reaffirming that teachers are the “unsung army” of nation-building who must be empowered to sustain Nigeria’s growth.
“The magic bullet for national rebranding and progress must start with investment in teachers,” he concluded. “If teachers—both public and private—are taken care of, Nigeria will rise again.”
