Again, Table 29 shows the national trend of teacher recruitment/retention over the period 1988 to 1996. Considerable surges in teacher recruitment are to be observed in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995. This periodical recruitment may have something to do with policy reviews and changes.

A steady increase in primary school teacher population over the years (1988-1998) is to be observed. The teaching career appears to be one of the few careers in Nigeria in which the females are more in number. Among the qualified teachers, i.e. teachers with the minimum of NCE, the female teachers appear to out number their male counterparts.

Table 30: PUPIL/ TEACHER RATIO

Source: Statistics Division, FME Abuja.

Fig. G

Pupil teacher ratio (PTR) is one of the most common indicators used in planning. It is believed that low number of pupils per teacher indicator pupils will have better chance of contact with the teachers and hence better teaching/learning process. The ratio is used to measure the level of human resource input (teachers). In Nigeria, the Government prescribe the minimum standards of education at all levels. In this regard; the pupil/teacher ratio prescribe for primary and post-primary schools is 40. The primary school pupil/teacher ratio has remained below 40 from 1990 to 1996. The highest Pupil/Teacher ratio (national) of 39 was recorded in 1992.

When the analysis is done by States, for 1996, Pupil/Teacher ratio were 21 for Anambra and Kwara States, 22 for Taraba and 26 for FCT Abuja, Plateau and Ogun states. The States that exceeded the national standard were Yobe (73), Borno, Kano (56), Adamawa (53), Benue (46), and Jigawa (44).