How Did They Cope: Analyzing the Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Private School Teachers in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State of Nigeria

This quantitative research analyzed the effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on private school teachers in Nigeria and investigated into their coping strategies. The effects included loss of job, depression from prolonged inability to afford basic needs. These teachers coped through starting a second stream of income, gifts and borrowed funds, and importantly noting that there were little or no government assistance. The researchers also investigated to know whether the gender, grades taught by the teachers and locations of school showed any meaningful difference when compared against their level of perception of the effects of the pandemic on them. There was no meaningful difference with regards to teachers’ gender and grades taught when compared against their perception of the effects of pandemic on them but there was a significant difference with regards to location of school (urban, suburban and rural) taught. The research revealed that these teachers who could barely live off on their meagre salary pre-pandemic suffered amid the pandemic and proffered important recommendations for individual and national references. This research employed the survey research method, private school teachers filled the questionnaire online, and the data collected was analyzed using the SPSS 20 program. This research also provided a significant comparative analysis of private schools funding in Nigeria and other countries, thereby revealing how private schools funding and existence have been paid little or no attention in Nigeria.