Education advocate, Alex Onyia, has proposed major reforms to Nigeria’s teaching profession, including a master’s degree minimum and ₦400,000 monthly salary, sparking debate online.
Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare and education development advocate, has proposed sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s education sector. In a series of social media posts on Monday, Onyia called for a minimum of a master’s degree with a second-class upper (2:1) for teachers.
“Being a teacher should be something of great pride, and the academic standards should be very high,” he said.
He recommended a starting salary of ₦400,000 and a brand-new car payable over time, citing Finland as a model. “The best should train the coming generations,” he added.
Onyia also suggested biannual licence renewals tied to certification exams. The proposals sparked diverse reactions.
Ikenna argued, “A bachelor’s degree holder is more than qualified. It’s not about the class of degree.”
J. Opara urged flexibility and foreign training. Kolawole stressed, “Minimum requirement should be a proven ability to actually impart knowledge”
Despite concerns over feasibility, Onyia remained firm: “Within a year, Nigeria education will be transformed.”