In Borno State, Nigeria teachers face ongoing trauma from Boko Haram attacks and subsist on meager salaries, yet remain dedicated to preventing students from being recruited by the insurgents.
Saleh, a teacher in Sewanee, was forced to flee his village after Boko Haram members threatened his life for continuing to teach. “I was forced to relocate to my village for about one and a half years before I returned,” he recalled, describing how insurgents lived among them and issued threats by letter or phone.
Despite their peril, teachers like Saleh remain committed. “If we quit the school system, many pupils will drop out, making it easy for criminal elements to brainwash and recruit them,” he said.
Teachers in Borno earn as little as N12,500 monthly, despite their qualifications. Baye, with a B.Sc. in Education and 19 years of teaching experience, earns just N13,700. “I pay N300 daily for transportation, leaving me with about N7,700 monthly,” he lamented.
Another teacher, Taju, with 15 years of experience, earns N15,000. “My children consume more food in two days than my monthly salary,” he said. Teachers often resort to side jobs to survive, such as commercial transportation and farming.
The instability has left students traumatized. Bashir, a teacher in Biu, noted, “Whenever they hear a gunshot or any loud sound, they scamper for safety in the classroom.”
Amiru, another teacher, emphasized the broader societal impact if children drop out of school. “We use Islamic teachings to tell them the implications of their actions when they die, which deters them from joining insurgent groups,” he explained.
Efforts to address the trauma include workshops, seminars, and increased school security. However, claims of poor remuneration persist. Zal Audu, President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers in Borno State, disputed these claims, suggesting some teachers were not hired through proper channels.
Despite promises of salary increases, many teachers continue to earn below the minimum wage. The situation has forced some to resign, like Musa and Nurasi, who left the profession due to the unlivable wages.
The commitment of these teachers is crucial in a region where Boko Haram has recruited over 8,000 children for terrorism since 2009. The government’s efforts to mitigate trauma and increase security are ongoing, but the challenges of poor pay and the constant threat of insurgency remain significant hurdles.
