WTD: Why teachers deserve their rewards here on earth

The popular saying that a teacher’s reward is in heaven has often encouraged selflessness and poverty of teachers for decades, whereas education experts implore that they should reap their rewards right here on earth; PAUL OKAH reports.

The phrase ‘a teacher’s reward is in heaven’ is a popular saying that acknowledges the often low pay and lack of societal recognition teachers face, suggesting that their selfless dedication to shaping minds will be divinely compensated in the afterlife.

The idiom highlights that teaching is a noble, vocation-driven calling rather than a quick way to amass wealth, implying that, because the value of building a human life is immeasurable, and earthly salaries often fail to match a teacher’s true impact.

However, with World Teachers’ Day (WTD) celebrated every October 5, educators emphasise that a teacher’s reward should also manifest on earth through fair compensation, timely pay, respect and professional support.

A teacher’s take

Speaking with this reporter, a teacher based in Abuja, Mrs. Aisha Musa, said many schools exploit teachers, thereby ridiculing the teaching profession, especially as they make a lot of money from parents of students.

She said, “If a teacher works for an organisation, the teacher deserves to be paid fairly for that work. Heaven is a spiritual destination, and getting there is based on one’s relationship with God and how one lives according to His will. It should therefore not be used as an excuse to deny a teacher fair wages on earth. Unfortunately, many teachers today work under very difficult conditions.

“Some wake up as early as 4:00a.m., prepare for work, spend several hours in traffic, arrive at school early, teach throughout the day and sometimes return home at 4:00pm or 5:00p.m. By the time they get home, there is still preparation and other responsibilities waiting for them. Yet, some of these teachers receive salaries that do not reasonably reflect the amount of work they do. Some are even owed several months’ salaries while the schools continue to collect fees from parents.”

Also, speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a lecturer at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State (AE-FUNAI), Rosemary Ejimole Mbe, said the government should put necessary plans in place to ensure that teachers are rewarded here on earth as a result of what they stand for.

She said, “To be a teacher is a call to service. It goes beyond just entering the classroom with a chalk or a marker. It is a call to nation building, character formation and preparing the younger generation for the future. A teacher understands these roles; hence, they approach the profession with dexterity, leaving no stone unturned towards having a better society.

“A teachers daily routine starts long before that of others, rising early to get ready for the day’s activities, which could be between 4:00 – 5:00am, to arriving to school, latest 7:30am, to unlock the class-rooms, set up the whiteboard, organise materials and review lesson plans for the day, which has to do with teaching core subjects, guiding class activities, and monitoring student engagements through morning and afternoon.

“Unfortunately, despite these sacrifices made by teachers to ensure a better society and future, they have not been adequately compensated or rewarded by government and well-meaning individuals. It’s discouraging to note that teachers are paid peanuts, a take home that cannot take them home when compared with current economic realities in Nigeria.

“We cannot build a better society while neglecting teacher’s reward on earth. Teachers should be accorded respect, dignity and treated with all sense of professionalism deserving of the teaching profession. For this to happen government at all levels should develop the political will power to look into it.”

‘Teaching a noble profession deserving of earthly rewards’

On his part, the Vice Principal (Academic), Supreme Dominion Famous School, Lekki, Lagos, Michael Otu, lamented that teachers are neglected, despite having families to cater for, saying the profession is a noble one that deserves earthly rewards.

“There is a dangerous attitude among some school proprietors that “anybody can teach.” This attitude reduces teaching to simply standing before children and giving them notes. Teaching is much more than that. When schools employ unqualified or poorly prepared people simply because they are cheaper, the consequences eventually fall on students. Education suffers, teachers suffer and, ultimately, society suffers.

“There is also something fundamentally wrong when a school collects substantial fees from parents, but treats the teachers who deliver the actual educational service as though they are an unnecessary expense. A school cannot function without teachers. The classrooms need teachers. The students need teachers. The academic success that schools advertise to parents is largely built on the work of teachers.

“Therefore, teachers should not be treated as the least important people in the educational system. Paying teachers fairly is not charity; it is an obligation that comes with employing them. A teacher should not have to beg for the salary he or she has already earned. A teacher should not have to choose between feeding the family and going to work. A teacher should not be made to feel that asking for fair pay is a sign of greed.”

Continuing, he said, “And the fact that teaching is a noble profession does not mean teachers should be expected to live in poverty. In fact, if we truly value education, then we must value the people who provide it. The quality of education in any society is closely connected to the quality, motivation and welfare of its teachers. This is why I believe that teachers deserve their rewards here on earth.

“We should not tell a hungry teacher, “Your reward is in heaven,” while the same teacher is helping to build the future of the school and the future of the children in that school.

“Yes, teachers may have a heavenly reward for their good works, but while they are still on earth, they also deserve their salaries, their dignity, their rest, their welfare and the respect that comes with honest labour. After all, the same society that tells teachers to prepare children for the future should also be prepared to take care of the teachers who are building that future.”

An expert’s view

On his part, an education expert, Chief Peter Ademola, said many school teachers earn as low as ₦15, 000 per month, making it demoralising to get the best from the teaching profession.

He said, “Most school teachers in Nigeria are not treated well, as they frequently face low pay, heavy workloads and a lack of basic benefits. While a small percentage of elite or high-end private schools in major cities offer competitive salaries, the majority of teachers experience difficult working conditions.

“Many budget and mid-tier private schools pay entry-level or qualified teachers between ₦15, 000 and ₦40, 000 per month, which falls far below the national minimum wage. Discouragingly, teachers in lower-tier schools often do not receive salaries during long school holiday periods because owners refuse to pay when school is not in session. Salaries are also frequently delayed or subject to arbitrary deductions for minor lateness or school events.

“As you know, teachers regularly work 10 to 12 hours a day, handling heavy teaching loads, extracurricular supervision and extra marketing duties without overtime pay. In fact, teachers can be dismissed instantly without notice or formal procedure if they question management or complain about conditions. A lot of schools ask teachers to be in school as early as 7:00 a.m. till 6:00p.m., from Monday to Friday. Also, the vast majority of private school educators lack formal employment contracts, health insurance, paid leave and pension contributions.”

He said further, “Nevertheless, teachers can get their earthly rewards through fair financial compensation, professional recognition, and supportive welfare policies rather than waiting for the afterlife. The old saying that ‘a teacher’s reward is in heaven’ is increasingly challenged as an excuse for underpaying and undervaluing educators. To ensure teachers receive their due rewards right here on earth, several practical and systemic steps are necessary.

“Governments and private school owners must pay wages that match the high level of education, training, and effort required for teaching. Providing practical financial boosts – such as Akwa Ibom state’s wardrobe and special allowances – helps teachers maintain dignity and cover daily living costs. Ensuring that pensions and gratuities are paid promptly upon retirement removes financial anxiety from former educators.

“Society must treat teaching with the same level of prestige and professional respect given to medicine, law, or engineering. Providing well-equipped classrooms, modern teaching tools and manageable workloads prevents burnout and improves job satisfaction. Celebrating World Teachers’ Day with tangible honours, awards and public appreciation highlights their vital role in building society.”