Work

Teachers’ Beliefs About Mentoring Practices in Nigeria’s Public School System: A Proposed Framework to Curb Teacher Attrition

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study explores teachers’ perceptions of mentoring practices and their impacts on teacher retention in Nigeria’s public schools, where 60% of teachers leave the profession within their first five years due to inadequate mentorship support. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study surveyed 200 teachers and conducted 45 semi-structured interviews across Nigeria’s southwest and north–central regions. The findings revealed that mentoring programs exist, but most programs are informal and lack structure, leaving beginning teachers unsupported. A shared belief among the participants was that structured mentorship can reduce burnout and improve professional confidence and directly impacts retention rates. In response to these gaps, this study proposes a structured mentorship program, including a defined mentor-to-mentee ratio (1:3 to 1:5), formalised mentoring sessions, regular assessments, and a program duration of one academic year. The proposed framework aims to provide consistent support, improve teacher retention, and enhance professional development. This study recommends piloting this mentorship framework in select schools and implementing it nationwide to address teacher attrition and improve the Nigerian education system.

Source: Education Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/educsci15050526

Authors: Michael Ifarajimi, Stephen Bolaji, Jon Mason, Sulay Jalloh

Institution: Charles Darwin University

Language: English

Topic: Teacher Professional Development and Motivation

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172