Niger has integrated 11,015 contract teachers into its civil service without competitive exams, in a move aimed at addressing chronic teacher shortages and stabilizing employment in the education sector, authorities said.
The decision, announced by the Ministry of National Education on Friday, follows consultations involving several government ministries and social partners in the education sector. Two technical committees, established under the initiative of Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine and the leadership of President Abdourahamane Tiani, guided the process.
“These consultations made it possible to identify concrete solutions, particularly in recruitment and the clearance of salary and promotion arrears,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.
The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Employment has been assigned oversight of the integration process. The newly absorbed teachers are to be gradually assigned across several ministries, including education, technical and vocational training, youth and sports, culture, and the promotion of social values.
Authorities said the measure is intended to secure professional careers long marked by contractual instability. Contract teaching positions in Niger, as in many low-income countries, are often precarious, contributing to low motivation and declining teaching quality, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned.
By stabilizing employment, the government aims both to reduce social tensions and to strengthen the education system for the long term.
The integration comes amid a persistent structural shortage of teachers in Niger, particularly in secondary education. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the average student-to-teacher ratio in secondary schools stands at around 30 students per teacher, exceeding international recommendations. In rural areas, ratios can surpass 50 students per teacher, putting pressure on classroom management and reducing the quality of instruction.
Authorities said the move also responds to demographic pressures and overcrowded classrooms, which have increasingly strained Niger’s education system.
The decision is part of a broader government effort to provide job stability for education professionals while addressing social and economic pressures. Contract teachers, many of whom had long served without permanent status or career prospects, will now have access to civil service benefits, including regular salaries, career progression, and social protections.
Observers say the policy could improve teacher retention and performance, particularly in rural and underserved regions, where turnover has historically been high. By formalizing employment, the government hopes to motivate teachers and enhance learning outcomes for students.
“This measure responds to a social emergency and lays the groundwork for a durable strengthening of both the education system and the public labour market,” the ministry statement said.
Niger’s education sector has faced repeated tensions over the precarious status of contract teachers, including strikes and protests in recent years. Analysts say that integrating such a large cohort into the civil service without competitive exams is unusual but reflects the government’s determination to address a persistent shortage while maintaining social stability.
The move is also expected to reduce disparities in teacher allocation and to help ensure that staffing levels meet international standards over time, supporting the government’s broader development goals.
With population growth and increasing demand for secondary education, Niger’s authorities have prioritized the stabilization and expansion of the teaching workforce as part of a national strategy to improve educational access and quality across the country.
