Dr. Bello, GaniyuBello, Ilias Ayo2026-04-082026-04-082016-06APA2449-0679https://repository.lcu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1401This study analysed and compared the levels of work motivation among the public and private teachers in Ilorin metropolis of Kwara State. It adopted the descriptive survey design. Six hundred teachers selected randomly from 15 private and 15 public secondary schools participated in the study. A research instrument entitled Teachers’ Self-assessment Motivation Scale (SAMS) was designed by the researchers to gather data for the study. The reliability coefficient of the instrument was determined through the test retest procedure and Chrombach Alpha formula, its reliability coefficient was found to be .87. Results revealed that work motivation among majority (61.8%) of the teachers was at a moderate level, while 23.7% and 14.5% of the teachers were at high and low motivation level respectively. Work motivation among teachers in public schools was higher than among teachers in private secondary schools. Only 5.3% of teachers in public school were at the low motivation level compared to 23.7% of teachers in private secondary schools at the low motivation level. It is obvious from the forgoing that the work motivation level of teachers in private secondary school is not 78 as encouraging as that of teachers in public secondary schools. In most private schools lack of incentives such as annual salary increment, promotion, sponsorship to in-service training, workshops and conferences plausibly accounted for their low level of motivation. Based on the results, it was recommended that proprietors of private secondary schools should endeavor to provide their teachers incentives that teachers in public schools are enjoying. Key Words: Work Motivation, Teachers, Motivation, Secondary Schools, Private and Public Schools.enWork MotivationTeachersMotivationSecondary SchoolsPrivate and Public Schools.Article