Examining Teacher Attrition in Vocational Education and Its Consequences for Programme Quality in Kwara State

This study examined the causes and consequences of teacher attrition in vocational education programmes in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Sustained teacher attrition represents a critical threat to vocational education quality, disrupting continuity, depleting institutional knowledge, and disproportionately affecting already under-resourced practical subjects. A mixed-methods design was used, combining a survey of 200 current vocational teachers, exit interview data from 80 teachers who had left the profession in the preceding three years, and analysis of student performance data over five years across 20 schools. Regression and content analysis were employed. Findings showed an average annual teacher attrition rate of 12.4 percent, significantly above the national average for secondary education. Low remuneration relative to private sector alternatives, limited career progression, poor working conditions, and lack of professional recognition were the most frequently cited exit reasons. Schools with higher attrition rates showed correspondingly weaker student outcomes, with a 14.2 percent lower mean NABTEB pass rate. The study recommends that Kwara State introduce vocational teacher retention incentives including subject allowances, accelerated promotion tracks, and improved workshop conditions, and develop workforce succession planning for critical trade areas. These findings fill an important gap in the literature on teacher workforce management in Nigerian vocational education. Keywords: teacher attrition, vocational education, Kwara State, programme quality, workforce retention.