In recent years there has been a drop in the percentage of male teachers. The gender disparity is evidenced in many primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. This article is set to ascertain the nature of gender disparity in Nigerian publicly funded schools, the underlying reasons for the growing disparity, such as the feminization of the teaching profession, low teacher’s salary, flexibility of teaching of the profession, women as care givers, cultural belief, and sexual molestation. Challenges to the increase of male teachers in schools, such as low status of teaching, parental expectation, work policies and societal perception were explored. The implications of the absence of male teachers in the schools, among others, were failure among male students, academic under-achievement, under-utilization of male talent and indiscipline in school. Suggested courses for action to increase the presence of male teachers in schools include improving the condition of service, education policy reform, gender balance in other professions, publicizing a male friendly environment, and admitting men to educational programs. The aforementioned are efforts meant to encourage diversity in the teaching workforce. The article relied heavily on data collected from Education Management Boards of some Nigerian States’ for its discussion.

Introduction
 Synopsis of Teacher Recruitment
 Gender Disparity in TeacherPopulation
 Gender Balance inTeaching Workforce
 The Feminism of the TeachingProfession
 Women in Urban Schools
 Reasons for the Shortage of MaleTeachers in the School
 Challenges to the Increase ofMale Teachers in Schools
 Implications for the Absence ofMale Teachers in Schools
 Increasing the Presence of MaleTeachers in Schools
 Conclusion
 References

• Asodike, Juliana D.(University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria)